Alinghi claimed a fifth overall at the first of the iShares series on home waters in Lugano – it was a weekend of highs and lows; day one brought a capsize in a violent gust during a stormy squall; day two the team had everything under control again having worked late into the night to replace the mast and with day three came a race win!

 

The Swiss Alinghi fans were out in force on Saturday and Sunday lining the shore side and cheering Alinghi on. Ed Baird, helmsman, appreciated it – as did all the crew: “We have had a great experience here in Switzerland; people have been coming down to see the team and the event. It’s nice to be in a place where people are so excited not just about Alinghi, but also the sport!”

 

The iShares Cup is one of several platforms that the Defender is training on for the bigger goal of trying to win the America’s Cup again – this time on multi-hulls in 2009. “We have learned an awful lot, we have learned about capsizing which was unfortunate timing, but it was good for the learning process and we have learnt a lot about sailing in very light air which is something that we have to be prepared to perform in.”