Our story

OVER 10 YEARS OF WORLD CLASS SAILING

Alinghi as a professional sports team was created in 2000 by Ernesto Bertarelli in a bid to win the 31st America’s Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. In reality ‘Alinghi’ had existed long before this as the name of the Bertarelli families’ yachts, including the 1997 Bol d’Or winning trimaran.

The team succeeded in its goal, where no other had ever done before, and brought the Auld Mug back to European waters for the first time since its inaugural 1851 race in British waters. Defeating the Kiwis in a staggering 5-0 victory in March 2003, Alinghi found itself a place in the record books as the first European team to win the trophy and the first challenger to succeed on a first attempt.

The Challenger became the Defender and the 32nd America’s Cup, run as per the new model laid out by Ernesto Bertarelli, was widely acclaimed to be the greatest sailing spectacle ever. With four years of competition including preliminary Acts and 12 teams from five continents, plus more than 6.4 million spectators and over 4.2 billion TV viewers, the event ended up distributing substantial benefits to all the competing teams.

Alinghi won the 32nd America’s Cup 5-2 against old rivals Emirates Team New Zealand in Valencia on the 3 July 2007 after one of the most thrilling match races of all time. The final and deciding match was won by just one second! This put Switzerland and Alinghi firmly in the history books, along with the USA and New Zealand, as a multiple America’s Cup winner.

The 33rd America’s Cup in February 2010 was a rare Deed of Gift Match brought about by BMW Oracle Racing’s hostile challenge as opposed to the more common mutual consent events. After a lengthy court battle, the duel for the trophy was finally decided in a best-of-three series in mammoth, cutting-edge multihulls. In the end, Alinghi’s 90ft catamaran was defeated 2-0 by the American’s 110ft trimaran and her radical wing.

Alinghi, with Ernesto Bertarelli on the helm, continues to compete in the high performance D35 catamaran that he helped to develop. The D35 racing calendar includes the ‘Challenge Julius Baer’ which ranks among the most competitive one-design multihull series in the world, attracting legends including Loick Peyron, Michel Desjoyeaux, Karine Fauconnier, Franck Cammas and Alain Gautier.

Whatever the future holds for Alinghi, we continue in our aim to earn recognition as a world class sports team and share our passion for sailing whatever the competition or class.

FROM CHALLENGER TO TWO TIMES DEFENDER

2010
14 February: A problematic start for Alinghi sees the American’s sail to a 2-0 victory.
12 February: The first race of the 33rd America’s Cup gets underway with an action packed start. BMW Oracle inflict a penalty on Alinghi in the start box but then find themselves in irons as Alinghi break away up the first beat. The revolutionary wing pulls the American’s back in the game and they take the first match.
7 February: BMW Oracle win the first toss and choose to enter on starboard for the first race of the 33rd America’s Cup
6 February: For the first time in America’s Cup history, the traditional owner’s press conference takes place with only 1 owner. Ernesto Bertarelli talks to the world’s media alone as Larry Ellison chooses not to take part.
4 January: Alinghi 5 arrives in Valencia and the team prepare for competition

2009
23 December: Alinghi 5 leaves the Emirates and returns to European waters
15 December: The New York courts rules that Ras Al Khaimah is not a valid venue and that the 33rd America’s Cup must take place in Valencia.
10 November: SNG issues the Notice of Race for the 33rd America’s Cup
16 October: Alinghi 5 sails on Emirati waters for the first time
30 September: After a 12 day, 4,400nm voyage, Alinghi 5 arrives at the 33rd America’s Cup Venue in the Emirates
18 September: Alinghi 5 and its entourage departs Genoa, Italy, bound for Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
7 August: Alinghi 5 is flown by helicopter from Lake Geneva to Genoa, Italy, for sea trials
6 August: SNG publishes the Measurement Procedures for the 33rd America’s Cup
4 August: SNG announces Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, as the venue for the 33rd America’s Cup due to the ideal sea breeze conditions and the excellent infrastructure planned for the event
1 August: Alinghi 5 celebrates Swiss National Day on Lake Geneva with over 10,000 fans
20 July: Alinghi 5 sails for the first time on Lake Geneva
8 July: Alinghi 5, Alinghi’s giant catamaran is launched on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. This boat represents the team’s first step in the development process towards the 33rd America’s Cup
Alinghi wins the Challenge Julius Baer in the D35 class

2008
Alinghi wins the Challenge Julius Baer in the D35 class

2007
3 July: Alinghi wins the 32nd America’s Cup 5-2 against Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ)
April-June: Louis Vuitton Cup, Valencia, Spain
3-7 April: Louis Vuitton Act 13. The last time Alinghi meets the challengers before the America’s Cup Match
1 April: America’s Cup racing yachts unveiling ceremony
17 March: SUI100 launch, Valencia, Spain
Alinghi wins the Challenge Julius Baer in the D35 class

2006
30 August-17 September: SUI06 Swiss Roadshow welcomes 70,000 visitors
22 June-2 July: Louis Vuitton Act 12. Alinghi ranked 2nd after ETNZ
11-21 May: Louis Vuitton Act 10 (Alinghi 4th) and 11 (Alinghi 1st)
SUI91 is launched in Valencia, Spain

2005
29 September-9 October: Louis Vuitton Act 8 and 9 (Alinghi wins both), Trapani, Italy. Alinghi also takes the 2005 ACC Season Championship
25 August-4 September: Louis Vuitton Act 6 and 7 (Alinghi wins both), Malmö, Sweden
16-26 June: Louis Vuitton Act 4 (Alinghi 1st) and 5 (Alinghi 2nd), Valencia, Spain
February: Alinghi leaves Switzerland for Valencia, Spain, home to the 32nd America’s Cup

2004
4-17 October: Louis Vuitton Act 2 and 3 (Alinghi 1st ), Valencia, Spain
5-11 September: Louis Vuitton Act 1 (Alinghi 2nd), Marseille, France

2003
June: Alinghi wins the Bol d’Or in the 41ft catamaran ‘Le Black’
2 March: Alinghi wins the America’s Cup 5-0 against Team New Zealand
The Cup returns to Europe for the first time in 152 years
January: Alinghi wins the Louis Vuitton Cup

2002
July: Alinghi arrives in Auckland, New Zealand with SUI75
May: Alinghi opens the doors to the team base in Auckland, the first team to ever do so, and welcomes 100,000 visitors

2001
November: Alinghi sailing team moves to Auckland with SUI59 and SUI64, testing and training begins
June: Alinghi wins the Bol d’Or in the 41ft catamaran ‘Le Black’

2000
September: Alinghi, the Swiss America’s Cup team is officially launched at the Société Nautique de Genève
June: Alinghi wins the Bol d’Or in the 41ft catamaran ‘Le Black’[/toggle]