Racing:

Extreme 40

The Extreme 40 catamaran was launched in 2005 with the aim of providing an easy-access multihull that could be raced in a variety of conditions without compromising performance. The X40 was the headliner for the inshore racing of the Volvo Ocean Race and also the Extreme Sailing Series, won by Alinghi in 2008 and 2014.

The Racing

Having gained the attention of the sailing world thanks to its involvement in the Volvo Ocean Race, the Extreme Sailing Series was launched in 2007 as a showpiece for the exciting boat. Each Series is comprised of a number of Acts, initially across Europe, but later the world.  

Alinghi joined the X40 racing scene in 2008, using two of the catamarans as in-house training in Valencia as part of its preparations for the 33rd America’s Cup. At the same time, the four-man team – Ed Baird, Lorenzo Mazza, Rodney Ardern and Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen – joined the 2008 Extreme Sailing Series. Despite a steep learning curve – including a capsize in Lugano – remarkably, Alinghi took the title.

After a break to focus on the America’s Cup, Alinghi rejoined the Series – ferociously competitive as ever – in 2011, sailing it consecutively until the 2014 edition, which the team was delighted to win after an incredibly close second-place finish in 2013.  

Though the team has opted not to defend its title in 2015 – instead focusing on the GC32 and D35 championships – Alinghi is extremely proud to be the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series champion and wishes a fantastic season to OC Sport, which organises the X40 circuit

 

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The Boat

As with all racing that Alinghi takes part in, the X40 is strictly one-design, with a single yard producing the hulls and a choice of two providers for foils and spars. Running costs are kept in check with a rule that allows teams to only use two suits of sails in a season. The high-performance catamaran is specifically designed to fit into a shipping container or to be towed behind a car, and to be assembled quickly by a small team.

  • Length (Overall): 12.19m
  • Beam: 7.92m
  • Displacement: 1,250kg
  • Mast Height: 18.89m
  • Main Sail Area: 75m²
  • Gennaker Area: 78m²
  • Jib Area: 25m²
  • Top Speed: 40 knots
  • Crew:  4 (5, if all female crew) + up to 2 guests

Extreme 40 News

Alinghi are the 2014 Champions!

14 December, 2014

A very special year ended in suitably special fashion for Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi in Sydney, as they secured not just another Act win, but also wrapped up the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series title. Coming after the summer’s victory in the Vulcain Trophy, the performance in Australia caps what has been a hugely memorable 12 months for the Swiss team. Morgan Larson put it better than anyone after the racing: “We’ve had an amazing season with an amazing team. To win the season and the Act on the last day in the conditions we had here in Sydney, which is the best sailing venue in the world, is a special moment that’s going to take a long time to sink in. The level of confidence that we have on our boat just made me realise I can win anything with these guys. This is the best feeling I’ve had all year and probably in the whole of my sailing career, so I’m going to cherish it. “This victory was made possible by a superb team effort, by our spirit and by the unwavering and invaluable support of Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi’s heartbeat” In many ways, Sydney had saved the best for last, with big winds making for exciting racing. Indeed, so strong were the winds on the scheduled first day – up to 30 knots! – that racing had to be cancelled. However, from Day 2 onwards, the fleet was able to do battle on the city’s harbour, with thousands watching some fantastic duels as they played out on the water. Such had been the level of Alinghi’s performance throughout the season – four Act wins had already been secured – that the team only had to finish sixth to secure the overall title. However, playing it safe was never on the agenda, and the team went all out to win their fifth Act – a risk that is testament to the team’s competitive spirit. In the end, it all came to down the final double-pointer race, with Alinghi needing to finish ahead of their rivals,The Wave, Muscat. This they did, in triumphant fashion, holding their nerve to take second place in the race and the Act with it – a fitting end to what has been a remarkable season in which the team have been on the podium in every Act. This victory, of course, is the second circuit triumph of the season for Alinghi, after SUI1 helmed by Ernesto Bertarelli won the Vulcain Trophy – the other one-design multihill championship – on Lake Geneva, with an event to spare. Taken together, these two titles have confirmed a dominant year for the team, Well done to Morgan Larson, Stuart Pollard, Pierre-Yves Jorand, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey and to Anna Tunnicliffe, Commenting on the victory in Sydney and on the season as a whole, Ernesto Bertarelli said: “This victory is testament to the spirit, unity, dedication and passion of Alinghi. Coming after our win in the Vulcain Trophy, it caps a remarkable season for us and for Swiss sailing, which is proving once again that it is a major force to be reckoned with. “I want to recognise the performance and achievements of the Alinghi crew, led so brilliantly by Morgan Larson. Their consistency and competitive drive has been unparalleled and this victory is so well deserved. I also want to pay tribute to all of the other teams that raced the Extreme Sailing Series who made this season so exciting. I think that, together, we have again shown that one-design sailing, with all teams able to do battle on an equal footing, not only brings about the most thrilling sport, but also the most inspiring example of sportsmanship, fair play and genuine competition. I hope that this title serves to inspire the next generation of sailors to take part in what is such a fantastic sport.” ALLEZ ALINGHI!

Vital victory for Alinghi in thriller in Nice

6 October, 2014

It came down, as it so often has this season, to the final race. Tense, exciting and, above all, important, this was perhaps the most satisfying of wins for Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi. Conditions on the Med had varied over the course of the four days of racing, with light winds at the start proving testing for all of the teams. However, from a relatively slow start, Alinghi rallied in incredible fashion, stringing together performance after performance to put themselves in contention as the competition neared to a close. Heading into the final race – a double-pointer, of course – it was the team’s fellow countrymen, Realteam, who led the Act. To snatch victory, Alinghi had to finish a clear two places above their rivals. This they did, taking the spoils in front of the thousands of spectators. Given that this is the penultimate Act of the 2014 season, it was a vital win. With it, Alinghi have now extended their lead at the top of the Series leaderboard to eight points over The Wave, Muscat. However, with 20 points up for the taking in the final Act in Sydney, it is certainly not all over. Indeed, their are five teams capable of a podium position. A jubilant Morgan Larson, Alinghi’s helmsman, summed it up after the prize giving: “We were confident at the start of the year that we had a little bit of an edge, but now the rest of the field are showing some real force. I think now you are seeing the future. More than half the fleet have the ability to win an event, and that’s exactly what we’re going to see going into Sydney. That event is going to be worth double points, and if we go out with a bad performance and The Wave, Muscat or Emirates Team New Zealand come in with a strong one – we’re going to lose. So we’ve got to go out and try and get back on the podium.” The very fact that competition is fierce and that it is getting harder and harder to win races is certainly cause for caution when it comes to Sydney. But it also means that this performance in France is all the more important. And all the more impressive… Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 7 Nice standings after Day 4, 29 races (5.10.14): Position / Team / Points Alinghi (SUI) Morgan Larson, Anna Tunnicliffe, Pierre-Yves Jorand, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey 183 points Realteam by Realstone (SUI) Jérôme Clerc, Arnaud Psarofaghis, Bruno Barbarin, Bryan Mettraux, Thierry Wasem 171 points J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) Ben Ainslie, Nick Hutton, Paul Campbell-James, Bleddyn Mon, Matt Cornwell 161 points Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans-Peter Steinacher, Mark Bulkeley, Thomas Cjakgak, Stewart Dodson 160 points Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) Peter Burling, Glenn Ashby, Blair Tuke, Jeremy Lomas, Edwin Delaat 156 points GAC Pindar (AUS) Nathan Wilmot, Seve Jarvin, Hugh Styles, Tyson Lamond, James Wierzbowski 146 points SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Køstner, Thierry Douillard, Christian Kamp, Brad Farrand 145 points 8th The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Kinley Fowler, Nasser Al Mashari 143 points 9th Groupama sailing team (FRA) Franck Cammas, Tanguy Cariou, Valentin Bellet, Arnaud Jarlegan, Devan Le Bihan 143 points Oman Air (OMA) Rob Greenhalgh, Ted Hackney, Kyle Langford, Hashim Al Rashdi, Musab Al Hadi 138 points Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham, Pete Cumming, Aleksey Kulakov 133 points Extreme Sailing Series™ 2014 overall standings: Position / Team / Points Alinghi (SUI) 65 points The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 57 points Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 49 points Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 45 points J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 37 points Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 30 points SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 28 points Oman Air (OMA) 24 points Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) 24 points Groupama sailing team (FRA) 22 points GAC Pindar (AUS) 11 points