What a finish!

4 December, 2017

To look at the points tally at the end of Act 8 one might think that the last day of racing did not contain any pitfalls for the Swiss team. However, to follow the last race of the event minute-by-minute, or even second-by-second, a different story is told! Before this double-points last one, the overall Championship went to SAP, who managed to put enough of a gap between themselves and Red Bull to secure the season win. Still, aside from a victory in the Act being at stake, second place in the Championship was still in play. Whomever of Alinghi or Oman Air finished in front of the other, would claim the spot. From one tack to the other, the sailors held us in suspense. Halfway through this last race, Oman Air was even positioned to win the Act and to keep their second place overall. They were, however, perhaps not counting on Alinghi reviving its fortunes. The end of race 20 saw real mano-a-mano racing and, when the dust settled, it was Arnaud, Nicolas, Nils, Tim and Yves who won the duel, securing both the Act win - the team's first since Act 2 - and second place in the Championship. Ernesto Bertarelli, skipper, said: "After a difficult phase this summer, Alinghi has raised the bar since Act 6 in Cardiff. Tonight I am very proud of the team and the result they produced in Los Cabos." Pierre-Yves Jorand, coach: "It was an exciting season of ups and downs for the team. We learned much, especially that we must never give up and that we must always fight to the end, because in sailing and with these competition formats, anything can happen." Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician: "What a battle with Oman Air and SAP all throughout this year! I have only one desire for us now: Come back even stronger next year!" Nils Frei, trimmer: "It was a season with fluctuations, one that ebbed and flowed. We started well, then had a slump in Hamburg, before regrouping and beginning again in a positive waystarting. I really enjoyed the way we sailed this Act. We are, naturally, a little disappointed not to win the Championship, but we know that it was not here in Mexico that it was decided. However, it was important for us to finish well and, on this point, we are satisfied with the job we did." For the end-of-the-season video commentary, click here. To relive Act 8 with race replays, click here. The entire Alinghi team congratulates SAP Extreme Sailing Team for their victory in the 2017 Championship, thanks its partners and many fans for their support and looks forward to seeing you on the water in 2018! The standings for Act 8 in Los Cabos after 20 races: 1st - Alinghi: 224 points 2nd - Oman Air: 212 points 3rd - SAP Extreme Sailing Team: 209 points 2017 Championship standings after eight Acts: 1st - SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN): 98 points 2nd - Alinghi (SUI): 96 points 3rd - Oman Air (OMA): 95 points Click here for the results in their entirety. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photo credit ©Lloyd Images To find out more about the race tracking system, team composition and the event in general, you can find the event recap by clicking here.

Placed for the final assault

3 December, 2017

In two days and over 11 races, Alinghi won a remarkable nine. The team has consolidated its lead in the Act, but it still lacks a further boat to come between them and SAP, which is necessary in order to clinch the victory in the annual championship. Will salvation come from the Red Bull Sailing Team? Currently they lie in 4th place, 12 points behind SAP. As such, it seems a tough ask, but with five to six races scheduled tomorrow and a final race that counts for double points, anything can happen. On Alinghi's side, the team will, of course, continue to race as we have done until today to confirm our first place in the Act 8, we will try to put pressure on SAP and, maybe, we might consider also giving a boost to the "bull-boat with wings"... Yves Detrey, bowman, said: "The first race of the day was like a cold shower. In fact, we did not see NZ Extreme arrive on starboard, so we had to last minute tack under them and then tack once again to get to the next mark. Obviously that meant we lost ground and position, with no possibility of recovery, finishing last. After this brutal awakening, we returned to our previous form and nailed four consecutive victories! We made pretty decent starts, we sailed on good lines with good speed and our manoeuvres were excellent. After a slump this summer during Act 5, I would say that we have reached again the level of sailing from the end of last season when we won everything." Arnaud Psarofaghis, helm and co-skipper: "The crew did a great job today, manoeuvering the boat and tactically. After a very bad first race we managed to turn the tide to win all the others and position ourselves to have a chance of going for the Championship tomorrow. We will aim to win this event, but also to finish as far above SAP as possible, which is our chance for the title. It's up to us now to get back to the top of the podium." See you tomorrow at 2 pm local time (UTC-7, 8h less than in Switzerland) for the closing of Act 8 and the 2017 season, which you can follow live or replay by clicking here. And for the standings after the 17 races so far, click here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photo credit ©Lloyd Images To find out more about the race tracking system, team composition and the event in general, you can find the event recap by clicking here.

The sort of day we like

1 December, 2017

Not two, not three, not four, but a massive five straight wins for Alinghi on the waters off Los Cabos during this second day of racing. It was only Oman Air who managed to finish ahead of the team, just in front of our bow, in the sixth and last race of the day. Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician, said: "Listen, just because it might seem easy, it doesn't mean that it is! With a wind direction that did not stop moving, we were never able to apply the same strategy twice. However, the whole team was very good at adapting to the conditions. We were inspired, we went fast and we had great starts, which helps a lot on short courses. There are days like that where everything just goes right, it was a pretty magical day. " Thanks to the team's hard work and flawless focus, the Swiss lead Act 8's provisional standings, six points ahead of Oman Air and 11 points over SAP. Midway, there is still some way to go, especially as to win the whole Championship would require a second boat between us and SAP. For now, Red Bull (4th) are 14 points behind the Danes and the New Zealanders (5th) a further five points back. See you tomorrow at 2 pm local time (UTC-7, 8h less than Switzerland) for the 3rd day of the racing, which you can follow live or in replay here. And the overall classification after 12 races is here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find our more www.extremesailingseries.com Photo credit ©Lloyd Images To find out more about the race tracking system, the composition of the team and the event in general, the event recap is here.

The leaders to the front

30 November, 2017

Six races were launched in five to 15 knots of wind. Alinghi recorded five podium finishes and a race win: In the opinion of Nils Frei, it was a "correct day" for the team, which lies in 2nd position, between Oman, who lead the event, and SAP, two points behind. Nils Frei, headsail trimmer said: "With this westerly wind and the position of the race zone close to the shore, we had some tricky conditions. It meant there were lots of changes in terms of the force and direction of the wind, making race management difficult. It must be admitted that Oman Air sailed very well. With their five second places and a win, they claimed a lead of a few points, but it's still tight and of course there are three days left with plenty of points to fight for. "And, frankly, it wasn't that they were faster than us or performed better manoeuvres. They were just more consistent. On our side, we dropped a few points because of some bad decisions. We didn't have total success on some crosses with the opponents either, so overall we can say that we're moderately happy tonight. "As for SAP behind us, they had a last place finish that cost them a lot of points. Honestly, though, I don't think they're deliberately aiming for third place [which would be enough to secure them the title]. The rankings can change so quickly, that they and everyone has to aim for the win every time." Did you know? In six races, Alinghi's sailors have: - Realised the most manoeuvres of the fleet, with 41 tacks and 17 gybes (vs 27 ad 11 for Team Extreme Mexico) - Achieved the best average downwind speed with 18.2 knots (vs 15.93 for Lupe Tortilla) - Traveled 36.45km (vs 35.84 for Oman Air and 38.67 for Lupe Tortilla) - Hit a peak speed of 32.93 knots (vs 27.91 for Red Bull and 33.69 for SAP) For more data analysis like this, just visit the SAP Sailing Analytics site. The action will resume tomorrow at 2pm local time (UTC-7 = 8 hours behind Swiss time), which you can follow live or on demand by clicking here. Find the overall standings after six races in Los Cabos here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photos credit ©Lloyd Images 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 here.

The close of the 2017 season

29 November, 2017

With one day to go before the start of Act 8, the final leg of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series, the eight teams were honing their preparation under the Mexican sun in Los Cabos, which lies on the Pacific side of the southern tip of Baja California. Alinghi sits in third place overall, six points behind SAP and one behind Oman Air. Mathematically, therefore, the championship is still in play for the Swiss, especially as there are double points awarded for this last Act. To repeat their 2016 victory, Alinghi will need to finish ahead of SAP by two clear places and also finish above Oman Air. It will, of course, be a tough ask, as the Danes are very much the team to beat at the moment, having won the last two events. However, given a weather forecast of light conditions, nothing is taken for granted and the whole team is more than ready to take-up the challenge. To follow the races, which will be held from Thursday to Sunday from 2-5pm local time (UTC-7, 8 hours less than in Switzerland), there are several options: Live > via our website (races modeled in 3D on Thursday & Friday, then broadcast live on Saturday and Sunday) > On Twitter @alinghiteam (results published after each race with a few photos and short video clips) Watch on demand > On Facebook and Instagram for video interviews and photos > On our website for the daily recap and the replay of the races Live scoring as the races progress will be available here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com 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 here. Video #BehindTheScenes…What happens every morning in and around the boat? To watch João’s interview, which took place in and even under the water :-), click here. Photos credit ©Alinghi

Successful day but SAP pocket Act 7

23 October, 2017

The team fought and fought well on the last afternoon of racing in California, winning three of the six races launched in San Diego Bay. Alinghi thus had the best day of it and managed to gain four points on the leaders, SAP Extreme Sailing Team; unfortunately not enough to close the gap opened-up by the Danes on Day 3. It is therefore in 2nd place that the Swiss finished Act 7. Red Bull Sailing Team took third place on the podium, with Oman Air finishing in fourth. Nicolas Charbonnier, tactician, said: "San Diego gave us great sailing conditions throughout these four days of racing and we really enjoyed ourselves. However, we didn't quite manage to overcome SAP and so congratulations to them for their performance this week. We are disappointed with our third day of racing because we think we could have done better. We learned some lessons and today we sailed well. "It's up to us to come back stronger for the last act of the season in Los Cabos in a month. Mathematically, first place in the championship is still achievable. It would require that we win the event and SAP finishes 4th...In other words, if they sail as well as they have recently, it will be difficult. But in sailing, everything is always open and we'll see!" Click here to watch the interview with Nicolas in its entirety. See you in five weeks for the conclusion of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series season in Los Cabos (Mexico) from November 30th to December 3rd. Click here for the final standings of Act 7 in San Diego after 25 races. Click here for the overall ESS table after seven Acts. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photos credit ©Lloyd Images 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 here.

San Diego:Beautiful but challenging water

22 October, 2017

Today was not one that could have been described as an opportunity missed, since of the seven races launched, Alinghi scored almost the same number of points as its rivals Oman Air and Red Bull. However, that does not take into account the performance of SAP Extreme Sailing Team, who shone today, just as Alinghi did on the opening day of the regatta. The good news is that Alinghi knows it can perform on a similar level. The less good news is that the Danes have sailed so well that they’ve opened up a lead of 14 points. On Alinghi’s side, it has 17 on Oman Air, in third. Those point gaps would suggest that the team is comfortably installed in second place, but the team has promised to try everything tomorrow to climb into first place. Moreover, it seems that a little less wind is forecast…a little like the conditions on the first day in San Diego, which seemed to suit Alinghi. Yves Detrey, bowman said: “Windy and sunny, San Diego Bay is truly a beautiful place to race. For us, it was a bit complicated today. We did not really manage to lay the foundations of our strategy and we lost a few points in the battle. The task – to challenge SAP for first place – looks hard tomorrow, but we will fight to the end.” Click here to see Yves's interview in its entirety and to find out what an "OCS" is. The action will resume tomorrow at 2pm local time (UTC-7 = 9 hours behind Swiss time), which you can follow live or on demand by clicking here. Find the overall standings in San Diego here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photos credit ©Lloyd Images 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 here.

A day of sport on foils

21 October, 2017

At the end of a session like today's, sailors return to the dock somewhat tired after six intense races. But what a pleasure to see these boats performing at full speed once up on their foils. To sail in such conditions, you have to be precise and coordinated. Every mistake, no matter how small, is immediately punished. Tim Lapauw, trimmer and foil regulator said: "It was a good day for us. SAP is close behind us but we are still ahead, that's what counts in the end. After they, we signed for the second best performance of the day. The wind was blowing between 11 and 16 knots, often irregular in direction, which gave a hard time to Nicolas, our tactician. We are just a little disappointed with our last race of the day because before this one, we were five points ahead of second place. But a bad maneuver made us lose some points." Click here to watch Tim’s interview in its entirety. Halfway through the event, Alinghi is ahead of the Danes of SAP Extreme Sailing Team (our direct competitors for the championship win). The English of Land Rover BAR Academy made a strong impression yesterday, but seemed less comfortable in the later conditions and lie 4th tonight. Oman Air took the opportunity to grab the provisional 3rd place. The action will resume tomorrow at 2pm local time (UTC-7 = 9 hours behind Swiss time), which you can follow live or on demand by clicking here. Find the overall standings in San Diego here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photos credit ©Lloyd Images 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 here.

Promising beginnings

20 October, 2017

What better way to start a regatta than by leading the fleet after six races and the first day of competition? Yesterday afternoon in the San Diego bay, Alinghi were consistently among the leaders, despite the challenges posed by the unique current, wind variations and even algae. From the outside, the red-white-black GC32 catamaran looked fast, at ease and quicker to get on its foils than its opponents. On the inside, Nils Frei, the team’s headsail trimmer, confirmed the impression: “It was a very positive day for us. We were pretty quick and as the races were long – longer than normal – it meant we could get back into the race even if we’d made an OCS (over the starting line early), as happened twice, and had to let all the other teams pass us. The other teams sailed really well too, like the Land Rover BAR Academy guys, with whom we were tied after five races. Throughout the day, but especially on the last run where the wind dropped at the end, we knew we had to be patient in every moment. That’s probably where we made a difference.” Click here to watch Nils’s interview in its entirety. Nothing is settled, as there are still three more days of racing to go and only a few points separating the leaders, with all of the teams very solid and very eager to win, and very ready to fight right up until the last. But, after all, what Alinghi achieved on the first day is firmly in the locker. The action will resume tomorrow at 2pm local time (UTC-7 = 9 hours behind Swiss time), which you can follow live or on demand by clicking here. Find the overall standings in San Diego here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photos credit ©Lloyd Images 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 here.

On Your Marks; Set; Go for Act 7

19 October, 2017

It is in San Diego, along Harbor Island Drive, that the Extreme Sailing Series caravan has rolled into this week to take up its quarters for Act 7 of the season. From Thursday 19th October until the 22nd, eight international teams will compete under the Californian sun for the spoils in a breeze that, typically, starts off light and then has a tendency to strengthen in the afternoon, hopefully allowing the GC32s to race onto their foils, which will be a spectacle for the fans and a lot of fun for the sailors. Alinghi is now in third place overall behind SAP Extreme Sailing Team and Oman Air. Alinghi's goal is clear: To win the penultimate stage of the circuit, thereby maximising its chances of winning the Championship in the last event, which will be held in early December in Los Cabos, Mexico. To follow the races, which will be held every day from 2-5pm local time (UTC-7, 9 hours less than in Switzerland), there are several options: Live > via our website (races modeled in 3D on Thursday & Friday, then broadcast live on Saturday and Sunday) > On Twitter @alinghiteam (results published after each race with a few photos and short video clips) Watch on demand > On Facebook and Instagram for video interviews and photos > On our website for the daily recap and the replay of the races Live scoring as the races progress will be available here. Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo // #Extremesailing To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com Photos credit ©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 here. Video bonus! Have you ever gone up to the top of a GC32? To see the interview of João at 17m altitude, it is here!

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