Alinghi prepares for the iShares final

by Alinghi.com on 18 Sep 2008
The Swiss X40 team is up against last year’s champions TeamOrigin at the finals in Amsterdam this coming weekend…

The team of four led by Ed Baird on the helm includes Rodney Ardern on the mainsail, Lorenzo Mazza on headsail and Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen on the bow – the group has won the last three events in Hyeres, Cowes and Kiel and needs to be consistent this weekend to take the season win.

Ed comments on what is to come: 'Amsterdam is going to be the most challenging venue of the whole iShares Cup season because of the tight spaces and swirling winds, so there's going to be a lot to think about; as ever in learning how to sail these boats, but also in figuring out what works on these courses.

Hopefully we'll have a chance to be in a good spot on the leaderboard at the end of the season, but the TeamOrigin guys won last year and they have been very strong all year, so it is going to be a real challenge to try and finish ahead of them.'

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