GC32

It's tight at the top in Oman!

9 March, 2017

At the midway point of racing in Oman, four boats are competing at the top of the rankings having widened the gap on their pursuers. Oman Air took the lead tonight, just one point ahead of Red Bull Sailing Team alongside SAP Sailing Team. Alinghi lies in wait, two points behind. As Nicolas (tactician) said yesterday, in the ESS a single race can upset the order, so it is not wise to think that anything is settled, either way. With each place worth a point, with several races per day, and with four contenders for victory not accustomed to easing the pressure on one another, the battle for the top is expected to rage until the last race of Saturday, a race that has the added interest of counting for double points. Nils Frei, headsail trimmer: "This second day of racing started with 10-11 knots of wind, but it quickly faded to seven. In other words, it was a real day of light wind, with a flat sea, little foiling and gentle passing manoeuvres in the afternoon. "We were still able to run five races with us recording three third place finishes, one fifth and then a first in the last race of the day. Now that we have opened our account for wins this season, it's our job to increase the balance! "Overall, it has been a good series for us. We achieved the second best performance of the day (after Oman Air) and nibbled away at those ahead of us. That said, we can still sail better. I think we were at a slightly higher level at the end of last year, so we have to continue to refine a few small points to once again be at the top. Anyway, everything remains open over the next two days given the small gap separating the top four - we have to treat each race as a blank slate." Tomorrow, Friday, the start of the first possible race has been advanced to 1pm due to lighter weather forecast than today. Here's hoping that the wind up when the teams line up! The live video online will start at the beginning of the regattas. After day two, the general classification after 12 races (12 points are awarded for a 1st place, 11 points for a 2nd, 10 points for a third etc.) reads: 1st - Oman Air (OMA): 65 points after the 1st day + places today of 4th, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd> 117 points 2nd - Red Bull S.T. (AUT): 68 pts + 2nd + 2nd + 4th + 6th + 3rd> 116 points 3rd - SAP Extreme S.T. (DEN): 69 pts + 1st + 6th + 1st + 2nd + 8th> 116 points 4th - Alinghi (SUI): 64 pts + 5th + 3rd + 3rd + 3rd + 1st> 114 points 5th - Team Tilt (SUI): 54 pts + 8th + 1st + 5th + 5th + 7th> 93 points Find all the results at: www.extremesailingseries.com/results THE RECAP What: 1st stage of the Extreme Sailing Series ™ 2017 circuit comprising eight events, in eight host cities, on three continents Who: Nine international teams, each composed of five team members Where: Muscat, Oman
When: Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th March How: Teams compete over short courses in front of the public on a 32 foot foiling catamaran: the GC32 Tracking the racing Follow the Alinghi team from the 8th to 11th of March (up to 10 races each afternoon – but be aware of the time difference: GMT + 4 hours, + 3 hours compared to Swiss time): Online, via the Alinghi homepage (www.alinghi.com) or at www.extremesailingseries.com > Races modeled in 3D from 9th to the 11th of March > 3hrs of live images on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th afternoon (from the beginning of the races, until the end) > Replays available at the end of the races On Twitter @alinghiteam > Thread after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi > Video and video interviews throughout the regatta Alinghi's GC32 Crew Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Headsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Foil Adjuster: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Helm, co-skipper: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Technical team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Coach and Team Leader Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo #Extremesailing Photo credit
 © Lloyd Images

Adjustments and new benchmarks incoming

8 March, 2017

We start again once more and things are (almost) the same! The same flying boats as in 2016, almost the same opponents, the same type of racing format - tight and thrilling - but it is a new season where everything remains for Alinghi to achieve the double after the victory last December in Sydney in the Extreme Sailing Series. Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician and mainsail trimmer: "Here we are! After several days of work on the boat, two training sessions and, of course, the inaugural GC32 championship, today we began the first stage of a circuit that will take in eight venues on three continents." The format of the Extreme Sailing Series is unique in that combines high-level regattas with racing that is conducted close to the shore, meaning a spectacle for the public and for the teams' partners. It is also intended that it offers beautiful images and coverage for worldwide broadcast. To achieve this, we sailors sometimes have to travel a certain distance to reach a particularly spectacular backdrop, which ticks these boxes. That was the case today. "We had to make a long journey back and forth to sail in front of the Sultan's palace in Muttrah. Between the two, ran seven races in beautiful conditions that were typical of the Muscat region. The 15-17 knots of midday wind raised a lot of waves...waves that remained when the wind fell to 10 knots, to complicate our task! In the end, it is far from being our best day, but the positive point is that we are only five points off first place and, in the Extreme Sailing Series, five points can be made up in a single race!" Arnaud Psarofaghis, helmsman and co-skipper: "In terms of how we sailed there are some things we can improve upon. At times, we allowed ourselves, a little too much, to get caught up in traffic (when we sail amidst all of the other boats) and everything becomes more difficult. The manoeuvres we need to carry out are too dangerous, we have to deal with bad air from our opponents sails and we are naturally restricted by the presence of other vessels. "The strategy of choosing a side on the line and positioning ourselves was important. After having chosen to go port on the first two starts to phase out the issue of the fleet, we opted for departures to starboard, bringing us to the left of the race area and this is clearly what worked today. "Then we had to deal with a rather classic pattern. When you have a tough start in this compact fleet and at this high level, there are few opportunities to regain the advantage. You have to be patient and make the right choices. When we saw our position and the points difference at the end of the day, we were expecting worse, to be honest. So, yes we are disappointed not to have sailed better, but it was quite difficult for everyone. Tomorrow, we will adjust those few points I mentioned and everything will be better!" Check back tomorrow at 2pm (local time) for potentially 10 new races planned for the programme. After the first seven 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 - SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN): 1st, 6th, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 5th, 6th> 69 points 2nd - Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT): 3rd, 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 4th, 4th> 68 points 3rd - Oman Air (OMA): 5th, 7th, 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 1st, 3rd> 65 points 4th - Alinghi (SUI): 6th, 2nd, 5th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 2nd> 64 points Find all the results at: www.extremesailingseries.com/results THE RECAP What: 1st stage of the Extreme Sailing Series ™ 2017 circuit comprising eight events, in eight host cities, on three continents Who: Nine international teams, each composed of five team members Where: Muscat, Oman
When: Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th March How: Teams compete over short courses in front of the public on a 32 foot foiling catamaran: the GC32 Tracking the racing Follow the Alinghi team from the 8th to 11th of March (up to 10 races each afternoon – but be aware of the time difference: GMT + 4 hours, + 3 hours compared to Swiss time): Online, via the Alinghi homepage (www.alinghi.com) or at www.extremesailingseries.com > Races modeled in 3D from 9th to the 11th of March
> 3hrs of live images on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th afternoon (from 2pm to 5pm local time) > Replays available at the end of the races On Twitter @alinghiteam
> Thread after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi
> Video and video interviews throughout the regatta Alinghi's GC32 Crew Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Headsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Foil Adjuster: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Helm, co-skipper: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Technical team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Coach and Team Leader Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo #Extremesailing Photo credit
 © Lloyd Images

Unexpected conditions and competing styles make for happy sailors

4 March, 2017

This afternoon, on the fourth day of racing in this GC32 Championship, the wind was more than was forecast (6-7 knots), allowing the boats to foil downwind. The wind finally faded by the day's fifth race, the finish of which was just 21 seconds over the 35 minutes deadline as set by the race committee. It was Land Rover BAR Academy who narrowly lost out on the win in what was to be the day's final race. Nils Frei, headsail trimmer: "We are happy with this fourth day of racing. We were concerned about the prospect of a dead calm (little or no wind) because it was very hot this morning and when it was warm, the wind struggle to settle. In the end we were able to do four races in 7 to 10 knots. "With windward starts today, which was different to previous days when we launching 'reaching', with the wind on the side of the boat, it was certainly more interesting strategically. It gave us more options and it enabled us to get back to classic tactics - the first leg of the course facing the wind, the return with the wind with us. "With our 7, 4, 5 and 2 places, we maintain our third place on the podium, ten points ahead of 4th (Red Bull Sailing Team), seven behind second (SAP). It is true that Oman Air and SAP have taken a little lead ahead, but we have, at the same time widened the gap on our pursuers. So in the end, it's a positive day. " With Ernesto Bertarelli very involved in running a large and dynamic business, the Alinghi Team needs an additional sailor to accommodate sudden commitments to be fulfilled by his skipper. When Ernesto is helming, it does not mean holiday for the reserve sailor, far from it. Instead, he can observe the racing, monitor the team's performance and then offer advice. This week it was Nicolas on the role alongside team coach Pierre-Yves Jorand. Nicolas Charbonnier, co-tactician / mainsail trimmer: "Being in the follow boat, the view is totally different. I was aboard the GC32 throughout the 2016 season but I have to say that having an outside eye is very interesting at several levels. It is much easier to see the sail settings and you have a better vision of the whole fleet and how it evolves during the manoeuvres, after which it's easier to compare notes. "Since Tuesday, I have noticed two major facts. Our team has serious assets and Ernesto has done a fantastic job at the helm by assimilating, in a few hours of training, what we learnt during a whole season last year (Ernesto not been on board the GC32 since the Extreme Sailing Series Act 1 in March 2016). But, to be quite honest, even if it is an interesting and instructive exercise to be on the rubber boat, I prefer to be on board the GC32!" Misfortune for one, happiness for the other, a schedule overlap compelled Ernesto to head back to Europe tonight. Therefore, Nicolas will be on board with Arnaud, Nils, Tim and Yves for the closing of the first GC32 class championship. See you tomorrow at 1 pm (local time) for the final day in Muscat.   After Day 4 and fourteen races sailed, the overall standings read (with one point for first, two for second, and so on): 1st - Oman Air (OMA) : 2, 3, 7, 1, 1, 3, 1, 4, 5, 7, 6, 1, 2, 1 > 44 points 2 nd - SAP Extreme S.T. (DEN) : 7, 2, 1, 5, 2, 4, 12, 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3, 7 > 51 points 3rd - Alinghi (SUI) : 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 4, 5, 2 > 58 points 4th - Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) : 8, 8, 2, 7, 6, 8, 2, 2, 4, 8, 4, 2, 1, 6 > 68 points 5 th - Team Tilt (SUI) : 1, 6, 4, 2, 5, 1, 12, 3, 7, 5, 9, 6, 9, 3 > 73 points 6 th - Team Engie (FRA) : 4, 1, 5, 3, 7, 5, 6, 8, 10, 1, 2, 5, 6, 10 > 73 points Find all results on: https://www.gc32championship.com/results/ A RECAP What: The very first annual GC32 class championship, bringing together teams from the Extreme Sailing Series and the GC32 Racing Tour, as well as those who simply run a GC32 Who: 11 international teams, each with five members Where: Al Mouj, Muscat, Oman When: Tuesday 28th of February to Sunday 5th of March, 2017 How: The teams will compete in a race around marked buoys aboard their one-design 32ft long foiling catamarans – the GC32 Follow the action There are five different ways to follow Alinghi during the championship, with each day featuring up to five races each afternoon, starting at 1pm local time (GMT + 4, CET + 3) News, photos and video clips www.alinghi.com www.gc32championship.com On Twitter @alinghiteam > Updates after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi > Interviews, photos and videos Alinghi's GC32 crew Helm and skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Tactician and mainsail trimmer, helm on the last day: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Co-tactician and mainsail trimmer on the last day: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Headsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Foil trimmer and grinder: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Coach and team leader Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.gc32championship.com Event Hashtags #GoAlinghiGo #GC32championship Photo Credit ©Lloyd Images

Conditions in Muscat today are similar to Lake Geneva!

3 March, 2017

Nils Frei, headsail trimmer: "Leaving the port today we had 9-10 knots of wind, which allowed us to foil in the first race, in which we finished sixth. We were blocked on the start line by a competitor, meaning we were left in a bad position once we got to the first mark, though we were then able to make up some ground. "At the same time, the level has definitely been raised this week, as can be seen by how each team has had differing results throughout the course of the regatta. In today's race Oman Air finished seventh, Team Tilt fifth and Red Bull Sailing Team eighth. SAP's second place in the race secures them the same position in the overall rankings tonight, with us one position behind, six points ahead of Tilt in fourth. "Soon after the first race the wind fell and the race committee even had to cancel the second race as it was being run, the time limit to finish it having been breached - the rule states that if nobody is over the finish line within 35 minutes then the race is abandoned and the race restarted on a shorter course, if the wind allows it, of course. "The wind stayed the same, so we look forward instead to tomorrow and hope for big breezes so that we can enjoy some great racing." The sailing starts a little earlier tomorrow than the previous days, at 12:00 local time, with five additional races added to the programme. After Day 3 and ten races sailed, the overall standings read (with one point for first, two for second, and so on): 1st - Oman Air (OMA): 2, 3, 7, 1, 1, 3, 1, 4, 5, 7 > 34 points 2nd - SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN): 7, 2, 1, 5, 2, 4, 12, 1, 1, 2 > 37 points 3rd - Alinghi (SUI): 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6, 6 > 40 points 4th - Team Tilt (SUI): 1, 6, 4, 2, 5, 1, 12, 3, 7, 5 > 46 points 5th - Team Engie (FRA): 4, 1, 5, 3, 7, 5, 6, 8, 10, 1 > 50 points 6th - Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT): 8, 8, 2, 7, 6, 8, 2, 2, 4, 8 > 55 points Find all results on: https://www.gc32championship.com/results/ A RECAP What: The very first annual GC32 class championship, bringing together teams from the Extreme Sailing Series and the GC32 Racing Tour, as well as those who simply run a GC32 Who: 11 international teams, each with five members Where: Al Mouj, Muscat, Oman When: Tuesday 28th of February to Sunday 5th of March, 2017 How: The teams will compete in a race around marked buoys aboard their one-design 32ft long foiling catamarans – the GC32 Follow the action There are five different ways to follow Alinghi during the championship, with each day featuring up to five races each afternoon, starting at 1pm local time (GMT + 4, CET + 3) News, photos and video clips: www.alinghi.com www.gc32championship.com On Twitter @alinghiteam: > Updates after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi: > Interviews, photos and videos Alinghi's GC32 crew Helm and skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Headsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Foil trimmer and grinder: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Co-tactician and mainsail trimmer (alternating with Arnaud): Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Coach and team leader Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.gc32championship.com Event Hashtags #GoAlinghiGo #GC32championship Photo Credit ©Lloyd Images

In with a shot!

2 March, 2017

Timothé Lapauw, foil trimmer and grinder: "We are generally happy with our second day of the championship, which started with a nice second place after a great start. We then recorded finishes of 4th, 5th and 6th, placing us second overall in the championship standings. Oman Air lead by seven points ahead and SAP are close on our tail, one point back. The pack widened a little with Tilt suffering a disqualification for a false start under the 'black flag' rule in the second race of the day, implemented when repeated over-shooting of the starting gun has occurred. "The conditions were lighter than yesterday and the opportunities to foil were naturally rarer. We still have to fine-tune our start-up phase on the launch, but we can be pleased that, throughout the day, we always managed to come back during the race. The competition is really fierce, but our motivation remains strong and we will keep going until the end." Without our technical team, we might not have even been on the start line... Inside Alinghi with David Nikles, part of Alinghi's shore team: "Tuesday, at the end of the first day of racing, our GC32 was sailing back towards the harbour when we heard a loud noise, even from the coach boat following the GC. Whatever the catamaran touched in the water, it was big enough to cause serious damage to the rudder on the starboard side. It was impossible for us to sail – the plate on the transom holding the rudder was torn off, the link bar broken and the carbon spoiled. We had to lower the sails and be towed back to the port. We knew we would have to get to work to make the necessary repairs to get us back on the water. "We used a crane to take the boat out of the water for the repairs. All of the team helped João and me, of course, but they needed to rest in order to be fit for the races on the water. It took me a good part of the night and I came back early this morning to check that the resin had caught and that the paint was dry for the boat to be ready to go back to racing ... " Discover the rest of the story in pictures on our Facebook page ;-) Tomorrow Thursday 2 March is a day off, so there will be no competition. But March the 2nd is a big day for Alinghi, the anniversary of the team's first victory in the America's Cup! That win came in 2003 and was the team's first attempt, success meaning that the Auld Mug was returned to Europe for the first time since it was founded in 1851. Returning back to 2017, Alinghi invite you to join us this Friday for the continuation of the first annual championship of the GC32 class. After Day 2 the standings read: 1st - Oman Air (OMA) : 2, 3, 7, 1, 1, 3, 1, 4, 5 > 27 points 2nd - Alinghi (SUI) : 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6 > 34 points 3rd - SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) : 7, 2, 1, 5, 2, 4, 12, 1, 1 > 35 points 4th - Team Tilt (SUI) : 1, 6, 4, 2, 5, 1, 12, 3, 7 > 41 points 5th - Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) : 8, 8, 2, 7, 6, 8, 2, 2, 4 > 47 points Full results at: https://www.gc32championship.com/results/ A RECAP What: The very first annual GC32 class championship, bringing together teams from the Extreme Sailing Series and the GC32 Racing Tour, as well as those who simply run a GC32 Who: 11 international teams, each with five members Where: Al Mouj, Muscat, Oman When: Tuesday 28th of February to Sunday 5th of March, 2017 How: The teams will compete in a race around marked buoys aboard their one-design 32ft long foiling catamarans – the GC32 Follow the action There are five different ways to follow Alinghi during the championship, with each day featuring up to five races each afternoon, starting at 1pm local time (GMT + 4, CET + 3) News, photos and video clips: www.alinghi.com www.gc32championship.com On Twitter @alinghiteam: > Updates after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi: > Interviews, photos and videos Alinghi's GC32 crew Helm and skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Headsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Foil trimmer and grinder: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Co-tactician and mainsail trimmer (alternating with Arnaud): Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Coach and team leader Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.gc32championship.com Event Hashtags #GoAlinghiGo #GC32championship Photo Credit ©Jesùs Renedo / GC32 Championship Oman 2017

A nice and smooth entry into the new competition

28 February, 2017

Ernesto Bertarelli, Skipper and Helm: "With five races sailed today we are pleased to have completed the full programme of the first day of this annual GC32 class championship here in Oman. These flying boats really are great machines and I really enjoy being at the helm – it is great fun. "I am pleased with our alternating third and fourth place finishes because in these types of regattas that last several days, consistency can often be key. It is not like events where a team's worst result is discounted. Here, every race, every place and every point is important. Tonight, we lie in third place in the overall rankings, tied with SAP in 2nd and three points behind Oman Air, who lead the fleet. It's tight at the top, the more so because the other Swiss team, Tilt, are only one point behind us. For tomorrow we expect conditions to be pretty similar and we are all really looking forward to renewing the battle against this fleet of beautiful GC32s." Nils Frei, headsail trimmer, says: "We had fairly typical wind for the region, between nine and 13 knots and coming from the northwest and which allowed us to foil in each race. The courses are longer than those on the Extreme Sailing Series circuit, so we have more time to develop our tactical game. The manœuvres we carry out are generally the same, but we tend to do a little less since we are not constrained by things like a harbour wall or quays that exist in restricted race zones of the type that, naturally, we see in the ESS, where the emphasis is on stadium racing in venues where the public can get close to the action. We even have the time here to lower the gennaker during the upwind legs in order to reduce the drag. "Even though only a few points separate the top at the end of this first day, it's interesting to note that the top three are part of the Extreme Sailing Series, with the following two teams part of the GC32 Racing Tour. Maybe the ESS has taught us well?! In any case, starting a race with 11 boats can be tight! We decided not to take too many risks today on the starts, but maybe risk is what it will take in order to stay near the top of the rankings."   Racing is back tomorrow at 1pm local time, with five races scheduled. After Day 1, the standings read: 1st - Oman Air (OMA) : 2, 3, 7, 1, 1 > 14 points 2nd - SAP Extreme Sailing Team : 7, 2, 1, 5, 2 >17 points 3rd - Alinghi (SUI) : 3, 4, 3, 4, 3 > 17 points 4th - Team Tilt (SUI) : 1, 6, 4, 2, 5 > 18 points 5th - Team Engie (FRA) : 4, 1, 5, 3, 7 > 20 points A RECAP What: The very first annual GC32 class championship, bringing together teams from the Extreme Sailing Series and the GC32 Racing Tour, as well as those who simply run a GC32 Who: 11 international teams, each with five members Where: Al Mouj, Muscat, Oman When: Tuesday 28th of February to Sunday 5th of March, 2017 How: The teams will compete in a race around marked buoys aboard their one-design 32ft long foiling catamarans – the GC32 Follow the action There are five different ways to follow Alinghi during the championship, with each day featuring up to five races each afternoon, starting at 1pm local time (GMT + 4, CET + 3) News, photos and video clips: www.alinghi.com www.gc32championship.com On Twitter @alinghiteam: > Updates after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi: > Interviews, photos and videos Alinghi's GC32 crew Helm and skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Headsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Foil trimmer and grinder: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Co-tactician and mainsail trimmer (alternating with Arnaud): Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Coach and team leader Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.gc32championship.com Event Hashtags #GoAlinghiGo #GC32championship Photo Credit ©Jesùs Renedo / GC32 Championship Oman 2017

One day to go until the start of the GC32 Class Championship

27 February, 2017

Alinghi join ten international teams on the starting line There’s just one day to go until the start of the GC32 Class Championship, which marks the opening of Alinghi’s 23rd season racing as a team. For the first time since the launch of the GC32 boats in 2012, all of those competing in the Extreme Sailing Series and the GC32 Racing Tour have been race together in a one-class championship that runs from the 28th of February to the 5th of March in front of the Al Mouj marina in Muscat, Oman. On site since early February, Alinghi’s technical team and sailors have been tweaking the set-up of their flying GC32, as well as focusing on training. Over the course of the five days of competition, each of which will feature up to five races, Alinghi will face ten high class international teams. Pierre-Yves Jorand, team manager, says: “When we heard the idea for this championship and the way it would bring together the maximum number of boats, we were very supportive, and are delighted to see eleven teams here to compete against one another. Some of the teams are already known to us from the Extreme Sailing Circuit, such as Oman Air, SAP Extreme Sailing Team, Land Rover BAR Academy and Red Bull Sailing Team. There are also those that we are not as familiar with, such as the French team, Engie, and the Americans, Argo – both compete on the GC32 Racing Tour. Then there are those teams who see this as the perfect opportunity to boost their season, such as the Kiwi team, Tawera Racing, and the three young crews preparing for the Youth America’s Cup in June 2017: Team Tilt from Switzerland, Youth Vikings Denmark and SVB Team Germany. “In terms of the sailing conditions, we’ve been racing in Muscat in winter for several years now. Generally, there is a thermal wind of between nine and 12 knots – sometimes a little more – which is favourable for foiling. So, it should be set-up perfectly for a good spectacle and a big battle on the starting line.” A RECAP                                                                                                  What: The very first annual GC32 class championship, bringing together teams from the Extreme Sailing Series and the GC32 Racing Tour, as well as those who simply run a GC32 Who: 11 international teams, each with five members Where: Al Mouj, Muscat, Oman When: Tuesday 28th of February to Sunday 5th of March, 2017 How: The teams will compete in a race around marked buoys aboard their one-design 32ft long foiling catamarans – the GC32 Follow the action There are five different ways to follow Alinghi during the championship, with each day featuring up to five races each afternoon, starting at 1pm local time (GMT + 4, CET + 3) News, photos and video clips: www.alinghi.com www.gc32championship.com On Twitter @alinghiteam: > Updates after each race On Facebook @teamalinghi and Instagram @alinghi: > Interviews, photos and videos Alinghi’s GC32 crew Helm and skipper: Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) Tactician and mainsail trimmer: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) Headsail trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI) Foil trimmer and grinder: Timothé Lapauw (FRA) Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI) Co-tactician and mainsail trimmer (alternating with Arnaud): Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) Technical Team João Cabeçadas (POR) David Nikles (SUI) Entraîneur et directeur d’équipe Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI) To find out more www.gc32championship.com Event Hashtags #GoAlinghiGo #GC32championship

ALINGHI 2017: The D35 Trophy, Extreme Sailing Series and the first ever GC32 Class Championship

23 January, 2017

In its 23rd season of competitive sailing, Alinghi will line-up on two circuits, as well as take part in a new championship for the GC32 class. Competing against some of the world's most prestigious racing stables, Alinghi will be going for a sixth victory in the D35 Trophy, as well as aiming to repeat last year's performance and win in the Extreme Sailing Series. Ernesto Bertarelli is founder, owner and skipper of the Alinghi sailing team. He outlines Alinghi's thinking behind the upcoming 2017 season: "The Alinghi spirit was forged by our exploits and victories on Lake Geneva, long before the America's Cup. That is why our participation in the D35 Trophy was never in doubt. It's where we come from, it's in our DNA and, whatever my schedule, I make it a priority to lead Alinghi on the D35 circuit. "Our successes on the Lake are extremely important to us and, believe you me, winning the big prizes, like the D35 or the Bol d'Or, is just as tough and just as satisfying as getting on the most acclaimed international podiums. "With regards the Extreme Sailing Series, Alinghi will be defending its title in 2017. Being the defending champions, we know that we have our work cut out, because we have become the ones to beat, but also because – and this is what makes the Extreme Sailing Series so good – the standard of all of our competitors is so high. We saw some amazing performances in 2016, notably from SAP Extreme Sailing Team, Red Bull Sailing Team and Oman Air. It was always close and hard-fought racing and, given that all of the teams will continue to improve, we need to make sure that we are ready to compete. "We therefore are also looking forward to participating in the first ever GC32 Class Championship, which will take place between the 28th of February and the 5th of March in Muscat (Oman) and in which teams from both the GC32 racing tour and the Extreme Sailing Series will participate. Exciting times ahead!" Alinghi: Team spirit is at the heart of our approach Ernesto Bertarelli: "It's no great secret that the key to a successful sailing team is teamwork. We have a long history of success, which breeds know-how and a determination to win. I've sailed with some of my teammates for more than 20 years now and also we have been able to integrate some of the best young sailors of the new generation. Take Arnaud Psarofaghis, for example, one of the premier talents in sailing. He was only 14 when Alinghi won its first America's Cup in 2003. Today, we are co-helming the GC32 and sailing together on the D35 Trophy on Lake Geneva. "Alinghi just has this superb team ethic, something I've always put at the forefront of what we try to do. It is not just about the guys on the boat, but also a fantastic technical team and a coach who is second to none. It is precisely the richness and variety of experience of each member of the team that makes Alinghi stand out. Each member can share and express their own experiences and ideas with the rest of the team, and spending as much time together as we do helps us to learn from one another and allows every member to up their game. This is also where the hard work of the past years comes into play; all the hours and hours of training together on the Lake came to fruition. "Finally, I believe that one of our strengths is that we are able to question ourselves and to learn from failures, enabling us to come back stronger. I could not be more proud of our team." Keep improving to stay at the top Arnaud Psarofaghis, GC32 co-skipper & co-helm, D35 mainsail trimmer: "We fully match Ernesto's way of thinking. We believe above all in teamwork. For me, it is a great thrill to race with a team I dreamt about sailing with as a youngster growing up on the shores of Lake Geneva. It was a great moment in Sydney - winning the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series - and we worked for it, but the next hardest thing is to do it again because everyone will improve and many more people with experience will come into the fleet, so it's going to be even harder this year. "I believe that there are lots of areas where our team can still improve. In sailing, you can always gain everywhere. One particular focus for 2017 will be trying to play the percentage game a little more when a race is going against the team. That means, for example, instead of trying to go for a big play that could produce a podium finish, but also risks finishing in the cheap seats, we will, with our tactician Nicolas Charbonnier, try to go for a safer option that gives us a few points but avoids the risk of disaster. "That's easy to say before you are racing, but when you are out on the water, it is really hard to make decisions that could be the difference between beating one boat or losing out against five others. You need to take risks, but in some positions we need to be careful not to throw everything away." Composition of the team The crew will remain the same in what will be: - Their 14th year competing in the D35 Trophy (with 13 podiums, including five victories) - And their 7th year in the Extreme Sailing Series (with four podiums and three victories) Ernesto Bertarelli and Arnaud Psarofaghis will share the responsibilities as co-skipper and co-helm on the GC32, while on the D35 Ernesto will helm and Arnaud trim the mainsail. Nicolas Charbonnier, Olympic bronze medallist in the 470 class, will operate as tactician both on the D35 & the GC32. Nils Frei, who first competed onboard Alinghi in 2001, will continue his role as headsail trimmer both on the D35 & the GC32. Yves Detrey, who was part of Alinghi's 2003, 2007 and 2010 America's Cup campaigns, remains on bow both on the D35 & the GC32. Timothé Lapauw, the youngest on the team at just 20 years of age and who made his debut last season, will return as floater on the GC32. Coraline Jonet, who was in the hospitality team during the 32nd and 33rd America's Cup joined the D35 sailing team in 2008, will be floater on the D35. Supporting the onboard team will be longstanding Alinghi crewmember, Pierre-Yves Jorand, who will continue to deliver guidance as coach and team leader, alongside the expert shore crew, David Nikles, João Cabeçadas and Claudy Dewarrat. 2017 Sporting calendar D35 Trophy Grand prix d'ouverture – Société nautique de Genève: 5th – 7th May Grand prix Realstone – Club nautique de Versoix: 20th & 21 May Open de Versoix – Club nautique de Versoix: 9th & 11th of June Genève-Rolle-Genève – Yacht Club de Genève < > Rolle: 10th of June Bol d'Or Mirabaud – Société nautique de Genève < > Le Bouveret: 17th and 18th of June Open du Yacht Club – Yacht Club de Genève: 2nd and 3rd of September Grand prix Alinghi de Crans – Club nautique de Crans: 9th and 10th of September Grand prix de clôture – Société nautique de Genève: 22nd and 23rd of September Extreme Sailing Series Act 1 – Muscat, Oman: 8th – 11th of March Act 2 – Qingdao, China: 28th April – 1st May Act 3 – Madeira Islands, Portugal: 29th June – 2nd of July Act 4 – Europe (TBA): 20th – 23rd of July Act 5 – Hamburg, Germany: 10th – 13th of August Act 6 – Cardiff, UK: 25th – 28th August Act 7 – San Diego, USA: 19th – 22nd October Act 8 – Los Cabos, Mexico: 30th November – 3rd December GC32 Class Championship Muscat, Oman: 28th of February – 5th of March Check Alinghi's sporting calendar at: www.alinghi.com/calendar Alinghi's record of success 1997: 1st victory in the Bol d'Or 2000: 2nd victory in the Bol d'Or 2001: 3rd victory in the Bol d'Or (the Challenge Bol d'Or awarded for having won the race three times) 2001: World Champion of the Farr 40 2001: Winner of the America's Cup Jubilee 2002: 4th victory in the Bol d'Or 2003: Winner of the Louis Vuitton Challenger's Series for the America's Cup 2003: Winner of the 31st America's Cup 2003: 5th victory in the Bol d'Or 2004-2007: Winner of the Louis Vuitton Acts 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13 2007: Winner of the 32nd America's Cup 2007: 1st victory in the D35 Championship 2008: 2nd victory in the D35 Championship 2008: Victory in the Trophée Clairefontaine 2008: 1st Extreme Sailing Series Championship win 2009: 3rd victory in the D35 Championship 2011: 6th victory in the Bol d'Or 2013: 4th victory in the D35 Championship 2014: 2nd victory in the Extreme Sailing Series 2014: 5th victory in the D35 Championship Since April: Top-speed record on a GC32, with 39.2 knots 2016: 3rd victory in the Extreme Sailing Series   For more information, please visit: www.d35trophy.com www.extremesailingseries.com   Photos credit: Loris Von Siebenthal & Lloyd Images