News

MORE WIND, MORE RACING, MORE WINS

6 May, 2017

After conditions yesterday put pay to a full day of racing in the opening event of the D35 Trophy, the teams would have been within their rights to have been worried about the light breeze and persistent rain that welcome the fleet on the waters off the SNG on this, the second day of the Grand Prix d’Ouverture. However, the seemingly ominous early conditions gave way to a good wind, meaning that a full six races could be run, making for some truly competitive and interesting sailing. The day’s first race didn’t exactly go to plan for Alinghi, who could only manage a fifth-place finish, but from then on things just got better for Ernesto Bertarelli and his team. Two finishes in third place were superseded by a great three race victories, meaning that Alinghi holds a commanding lead of seven points heading into tomorrow’s final day of the Grand Prix. As the team knows, however, the job is not yet completed and so the focus is very much on repeating today’s performance. Pierre-Yves Jorand, the team’s coach and mainsail trimmer on the D35, said of day two that: “The conditions today were tough and we had a difficult start, recording a fifth place in the first race. However, that is to be expected given that, as a team, the season is just coming together, and we were really pleased with the manner in which we rallied to record some really positive performances in the following races. We are aiming for more of the same tomorrow.” Results after day 2 Alinghi: 11 points Ylliam-Comptoir Immobilier: 18 points Zen Too: 18 points Realteam: 23 points Racing Django: 29 points Swisscom: 29 points Okalys: 33 points Mobimo: 36 points   To find out more d35trophy.com Credit for photos © Loris von Siebenthal If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi's team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need in the recap at the bottom of this news story. #GoAlinghiGo

THE ELEMENTS INTERFERE IN DAY 1 OF THE D35

5 May, 2017

Those who sail on Lake Geneva have learned from experience that the wind can be a capricious beast and today it refused to play ball for the first day of the 2017 D35 Trophy, the Grand Prix d’Ouverture sailed in front of Alinghi’s club, the Société Nautique de Genève. The conditions hadn’t looked too promising at the start of the afternoon, but it was still possible for one race to be sailed, albeit in light winds of about four knots. With a course westwards to the SNG laid out, Mobimo took the decision to start on port, by the pin. It was to pay off for the team, who crossed the fleet and led the race throughout.  Alinghi also started on port but by the race committee and, after the start, headed for the shore before tacking to the right-hand upper gate, trailing the leaders. Realteam were also in the hunt for second place, but at the next crossing Alinghi made a good gain, securing second place at the lower gate. That, unfortunately, was that, with the wind dropping to almost nothing. A glorious afternoon to be by the lake, but not necessarily trying to race on it and so the Race Committee took the decision to suspend racing, hoping for better conditions tomorrow for Day 2. A hope and a wish that all at Alinghi share! Results after 1 race on day 1 Mobimo Alinghi Realteam Django Zen Swisscom Ylliam Okalys   To find out more d35trophy.com Credit for photos © Loris von Siebenthal & Alinghi If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi's team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need in the recap at the bottom of this news story. #GoAlinghiGo

Useful information - D35 Trophy

3 May, 2017

D35 SEASON - A RECAP What: 2017 D35 Trophy, which is sailed exclusively on Switzerland's Lake Geneva. The championship comprises eight events, including six Grand Prix and two Lake classics (the Genève-Rolle-Genève and the Bol d'Or Mirabaud) Who: Eight teams, with five to seven crew members (total weight limit of 470kg, except for the Genève-Rolle-Genève and the Bol d'Or) Where: Lac Léman When: From May to September (click hereto view the calendar) How: Teams compete in races around buoys, lasting about half an hour each, using 35ft catamarans, the Décision 35, commonly known as the D35. Follow the action You can keep-up with the racing, with up to six races per day: On Twitter @alinghiteam > Updates after each race On Facebook@teamalinghi and Instagram@alinghi > Interviews, videos and photos throughout the regatta On our website > Daily news and photos D35 Team* Helmsman and Skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Mainsail trimmer: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) or Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) Tactician: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Frontsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Grinder: Coraline Jonet (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Technical Team and Trainer João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Claudy Dewarrat (SUI) For more info d35trophy.com Event hashtags #GoAlinghiGo // #D35Trophy Credit for photo © Loris Von Siebenthal *Temporary changes to the crew - For the first two GPs of the D35 season, Nils Frei (foot injury) was replaced by Arnaud Psarofaghis as frontsail trimmer, with Pierre-Yves Jorand stepping in as mainsail trimmer - For the Genève-Rolle-Genève (raced exceptionally, like the Bol d'Or but unlike the rest of the D35 championship, without constraints on total crew weight), Arnaud Psarofaghis was the team’s floater and Pierre-Yves Jorand the mainsail trimmer - For the Bol d’Or (also raced without any constraints on total crew weight), Arnaud Psarofaghis came in for Ernesto Bertarelli as helm, while João Cabeçadas reinforced the crew as its seventh member as it was this year very windy

After the flying GC32s, now the powerful D35s

2 May, 2017

As it is well known, once spring has sprung the regattas come thick and fast! Just as soon as Alinghi's GC32 had been dismantled, stored in its container, and sent on its way for the next Act of the Extreme Sailing Series, it was the turn of the D35 to enter the stage for the start of its annual championship. As usual, Lake Geneva will be the scene for the D35 Trophy, for which Alinghi is competing for the 14th season, in search of a 6th victory. The Alinghi crew remains as it was in 2016, apart from one change: Arnaud Psarofaghis coming in for Nils Frei as frontsail trimmer, as the latter recovers from his fractured foot. Pierre-Yves Jorand will be taking-up the position of mainsail trimmer, alongside helmsman Ernesto Bertarelli. Alinghi's club, the Société Nautique de Genève, is organising this opening Grand Prix, with six races scheduled for each day from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th May.   A RECAP: What: Opening Grand Prix of the 2017 D35 Trophy, which is sailed exclusively on Switzerland's Lake Geneva. The championship comprises eight events, including six Grand Prix and two Lake classics (the Genève-Rolle-Genève and the Bol d'Or Mirabaud). Who: Eight teams, with five to seven crew members (total weight limit of 470kg, except for the Bol d'Or). Where: The 'Petit lac' zone, in front of the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) and up to Versoix if lack of wind does not allow races to be launched in front of the SNG. When: From Friday 5th May (start-time 2pm, local) to Sunday 7th May. How: Teams compete in races around buoys, lasting about half an hour each, using 35ft catamarans, the Décision 35, commonly known as the D35. Follow the action You can keep-up with the racing from the 5th to 7th of May, with up to six races per day: On Twitter @alinghiteam > Updates after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi > Interviews, videos and photos throughout the regatta On our website > Daily news and photos D35 Team Helmsman and Skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Mainsail trimmer: Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) Tactician: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Frontsail trimmer: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI), replacing the injured Nils Frei (SUI) Grinder: Coraline Jonet (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Technical Team and Trainer João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Claudy Dewarrat (SUI) For more info d35trophy.com Event hashtags #GoAlinghiGo // #D35Trophy Credit for photos © Loris Von Siebenthal & Alinghi

Towards a crescendo in Qingdao

30 April, 2017

We had been warned of the 'random' nature of the local weather and Qingdao is keeping all of its promises! The waters within Fushan Bay, a nautical stadium bracketed by two sea walls and the city's coastline, delivered a range of conditions this afternoon, going from weak airs to abrupt gusts of over 25 knots, as recorded by the measuring equipment on board. As the wind increased, so too, did the speed of the racing legs, meaning that zone in which the boats sailed is limited by natural barriers. The more the wind rose, the more the GC32 began to lift on their hulls, then up onto their foils, making for an excellent spectacle for the astonished Chinese watching crowds, whose cries of "Ohhhhh" and "Whaaaa" of surprise gave voice to how fun it was to watch. As the wind increased, however, the boats became more difficult to manage and it took all of the sailors' talents to keep them on the right lines and under their control. In that context, Alinghi even narrowly avoided capsizing on the exit to a jibe (the images are obviously online!). In the end, seven validated races were run under a variety of conditions in which the young teams of Land Rover BAR Academy and NZ Extreme Sailing Team performed very well to join Alinghi on the provisional podium. The Swiss team keeps its first place and will start the final day of this Act 2 four small points ahead, a sign of great battles to be anticipated tomorrow! Straight after « hoisting João » up in the rig, Bryan Mettraux shares his impressions of the day in a video on our Facebook page. See you tomorrow at 2pm (local time) for the 4th and final day of this ESS Act in a China. After the ten races (12 points are awarded for a 1st place, 11 points for a 2nd, 10 points for a third etc.) the overall standings are: 1st - Alinghi (SUI) : 102 points 2nd - Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) : 98 points 3rd - NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) : 96 points 4th - SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) : 90 points 5th - Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) : 89 points Find all the results at: www.extremesailingseries.com/results To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Credit for photos © Sean team, Xaume Olleros et Alinghi If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi's team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need in the recap at the bottom of this news story. #GoAlinghiGo

No wind, no change

29 April, 2017

There's just one scenario where a day without wind, and therefore without racing, can in any way be seen as favourable: When you are already leading the regatta and so, without doing anything, you stay at the top of the rankings. Pierre-Yves Jorand, team manager, said: "There really was not enough wind to get the sails full. At the end of the afternoon, the race director tried to lay out a course and launch the boats in pairs, in match racing mode, in order to give the public a bit of entertainment, but it was really lacking the wind to run. The forecasts seem more favorable tomorrow, with a strong east wind approaching and so we cross the fingers!" To watch our coach's interview in full, check our Facebook page here. Did you know? João Cabeçadas is not only a passionate rigger, he also inspires younger generations to get into sailing. This morning, he was visited by young Chinese children to whom he introduced our workshop container and the GC32. Check out the pictures on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts! Check back tomorrow at 2pm (local time) for the third day of competition...hopefully windy! (No change since yesterday) After the first three races (12 points are awarded for a 1st place, 11 points for a 2nd, 10 points for a third etc.) the overall standings are: 1st - Alinghi (SUI): 1st, 2nd, 2nd > 34 points 2nd - SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN): 4th, 4th, 1st > 30 points 3rd - Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT): 2nd, 1st, 6th > 30 points 4th - NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL): 7th, 3rd, 3rd > 26 points 5th - Oman Air (OMA): 3rd, 7th, 5th > 24 points Find all the results at: www.extremesailingseries.com/results To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Credit for photos © Alinghi If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi's team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need in the recap at the bottom of this news story. #GoAlinghiGo

A shortened, but productive day

28 April, 2017

Everything was in place for a full day of racing on this, the opening of Act 2 of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series in Qingdao: The course laid out and seven teams looking forward to the battle. Alas, the wind, too weak at the start of the afternoon, had other ideas. For the first hour and a half, because of the unstable wind, which was of the type that can make the finish line a complete lottery, the GC32s took part in 'non-scoring races' – that is, races that got the fleet out on the water, but which counted for nothing in the overall scheme. Suddenly, however, between 10 and 14 knots of breeze filled the bay, making possible three competitive races and providing beautiful images of foiling catamarans for the telephoto lenses of a hundred photographers lined-up on the sea-wall – home to the Qingdao Olympic Nautical Centre – who enjoyed a direct view of the racing. For those who like statistics, Alinghi were today only 6% off a faultless performance, having recorded one win (12 points) and two second-place finishes (11 points each), meaning that they scored 34 points from a total of the 36 on offer. SAP Extreme Sailing Team and Red Bull Sailing team occupy the remaining two places on the provisional podium, each with 30 points. Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician, said: "The opening day's performance is, of course, in line with the objectives we set ourselves, but concentrating on what we need to do remains our priority. We bank what we have achieved, but start tomorrow from a clean slate, knowing that with three days of racing to come – and in conditions that are capable of changing, rapidly – everything remains to be done." To watch our tactician's full debriefing about the day, check our Facebook page by clicking here Check back tomorrow at 2pm (local time) for the second day of racing. After the first three races (12 points are awarded for a 1st place, 11 points for a 2nd, 10 points for a third etc.) the overall standings are: 1st - Alinghi (SUI): 1st, 2nd, 2nd > 34 points 2nd - SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN): 4th, 4th, 1st > 30 points 3rd - Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT): 2nd, 1st, 6th > 30 points 4th - NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL): 7th, 3rd, 3rd > 26 points 5th - Oman Air (OMA): 3rd, 7th, 5th > 24 points Find all the results at: www.extremesailingseries.com/results To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Credit for photos © Xaume Olleros If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi's team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need in the recap at the bottom of this news story. #GoAlinghiGo

"Nĭ hăo" - Hello Qingdao!

26 April, 2017

T-minus two days until the start of the second Act of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series™, which will take place in China from Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May. For the seventh consecutive year, Qingdao – the host city for sailing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – will welcome the ESS fleet. It's a place that holds happy memories for Alinghi's tactician, Nicolas Charbonnier, who won bronze in the 470 series in those 2008 games. Alinghi's bowman, Yves Detrey, echoes the opinion of all who have sailed in Fushan Bay when he says: "Here everything and anything can happen. With the skyscrapers framing the bay making for a very variable wind, the watchword has to be adaptability. During open-water regattas (outside the bay), we have to deal with the current, while in 'stadium racing' mode (very close to the shore and to the public), whether the wind is weak or strong, the water is very disturbed anyway. Having won the event last year, we know that we are able to adapt here and do what we need to do whatever the conditions. This week, our goal is clear: win! After our 2nd place in Oman a month ago, we are keen to go one better and take the lead in the overall standings after this stage." Adapt on the water, but not just there... Yves Detrey: "Two factors have disrupted our preparation for this Act. The first, logistical, does not concern us too much, especially since every team is in the same situation. The containers carrying boats and equipment were delayed by two days, leaving us less time than usual to carry out the assembly and to launch the GC32 and the semi-rigid. But, as I said, with all teams facing the same issue and with us not having big work to do on our boat, we can certainly cope. "The second disruptive factor is a bit more of a pain, especially for Nils. Our iconic trimmer has, unfortunately, broken his foot, an injury suffered in mid-April. We've brought the young and experienced Bryan Mettraux on board to replace him. Given the similarities in terms of Nils's and Bryan's abilities, this change won't have an impact in terms of individual performance, but what we all need to focus on as a team is how we communicate, which is of all importance. That's why we will be doing a double-training session to make sure we all know our lines. "Fortunately, Bryan is a veteran trimmer with Realteam, who races these boats on the GC32 Racing Tour and we all met in Switzerland last week to review the "who does what" on the various manoeuvres." Bryan Mettraux was practically born on a boat. After three years of Optimist and three years of 420, he joined the Centre d'Entraînement à la Régate (Geneva) in 2008 to sail on the Tour de France of Sailing and on the Décision 35 circuit. For the following three seasons he sailed with Team Realstone (D35 & Extreme 40), then for two seasons with Team Tilt (D35 & GC32). Now 27, he is racing with Realteam on the GC32 tour, training that team for their D35 sailing, and working as a shipbuilder in the winter at the Philippe Durr shipyard. Undoubtedly his experience, power and height – 6ft'4, or 1.95m – will be valuable assets for Alinghi. Bryan Mettraux said: "I'm looking forward to sailing with the Alinghi team. I have already sailed a lot with Arnaud and I know the position, so I have no particular apprehensions. I just have to adapt as quickly as possible to the peculiarities of the crew work during our one day of training on Thursday. " Racing starts on Friday, April 28 at 2pm (local time), with up to 10 races planned. A RECAP : What: "The Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 2, Qingdao, Mazarin Cup", second Act of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series™, which comprises eight events, in eight host cities on three continents. Who: Seven international teams, each composed of five sailors Where: Qingdao, China (on the east coast, between Beijing and Shanghai) When: Between Friday 28th April and Monday 1st May How: Teams compete over short and fast courses in front of the public aboard a 32ft flying, foiling catamaran: the GC32 Follow the action Follow the Alinghi Team from the 28th of April to 1st of May (up to 10 races each afternoon – but be aware of time difference : GMT + 8 hours, + 6 hours compared to Swiss time): Online, via www.alinghi.com and www.extremesailingseries.com > Races modeled in 3D from Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May > Live racing from Sunday 30th April to Monday 1st May, from 2pm local time until the end of racing > Replays available at the end of racing On Twitter @alinghiteam > Updates after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and on Instagram @alinghi > Interviews, videos, photos throughout the regatta Alinghi's GC32 Team Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Headsail Trimmer: Bryan Mettraux (SUI), replacing the injured Nils Frei (SUI) Foil regulator: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Helm, co-skipper: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Trainer and Team Director Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo #Extremesailing Credit for photos © Lloyd Images