Alinghi unveil in Swiss style

by Finoa McIlroy on 7 Jan 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup finalist Alinghi's unveiling of their chosen racing yacht, SUI64, provided no surprises on Tuesday morning. There was one notable omission, however, no appendage attached to the stern.

Alinghi have spent the last month testing the 'Kiwi clip-on,' a second layer which when attached to the stern of the yacht effectively extends the hull and increases speed, but have decided to sail without it in the finals.

On a hot and humid Auckland morning the skirt was dropped to the tune of Swiss Alpes horns and ringing cowbells to reveal the keel, rudder and, adding a touch of humour to the ceremony, an upside-down cow painted on the bulb.

Yachting commentator and former America's Cup skipper Ed Baird said the Alinghi yacht is pretty much as he expected.

'It's a fairly standard configuration,' Baird told nzoom.com. 'It's amazing how close these boats are getting.'

More important than the configuration under the hull is what is happening above the waterline, as was seen in the last defence with Team New Zealand's Millennium Rig.

'The quality of the equipment and shape and stiffness of the mast is the key. And the ability to control that is of the most value,' said Baird.

In comparison to NZL60, which led Team New Zealand to a successful defence in 2000, the trim tab and rudder on SUI64 looked relatively long, and the wings are slightly further back.

The next unveiling is of fellow-challenger Oracle BMW Racing's USA76, followed by Team New Zealand, who will be unveiling both NZL81 and NZL82.

The Louis Vuitton Cup finals best-of-nine series is due to begin on Saturday.

www.nzoom.co.nz