Alinghi triumph at second iShares Cup series

by Helen Fretter on 22 Sep 2008
The final event of the five-round iShares Cup European Extreme 40 Sailing Series ended in triumph for Alinghi for the overall iShares Cup prize after a hard-fought season, rounding off a resounding success for the second season of this ground-breaking and innovative sailing entertainment event.

The final event of the five-round European iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series proved to be the only event where the result was not decided in the final race, but even in Amsterdam it wasn't settled until the 16th race out of 18. Going into the final round Alinghi and Team Origin were on equal points overall and by race 16 America's Cup defenders Alinghi, skippered by Ed Baird had done just enough to wrap up the Amsterdam event and clinch the overall prize for the 2008 iShares Cup.

The score sheet not really reflecting that this was no easy achievement for the Swiss team who had been pushed throughout the season by the British America's Cup boys on Team Origin. After a three-day tussle with Oman Sail, BT secured the final slot on the overall iShares Cup podium in third place.

Over the five European events, seven different teams have stepped onto the podium, and in every race the positions have never stopped changing. Ten teams have competed throughout the season with the addition of two BMW Oracle Extreme 40s at the UK round and the French team, Twins, racing in Hyéres.

Over 150,000 spectators across the events in Lugano, Hyéres, Cowes, Kiel and Amsterdam have enjoyed the spectacular entertainment of the Extreme 40 fleet battling it out for supremacy on short-courses just a stone's throw away from the shore. The circuit has attracted an unprecedented amount of media coverage around the globe, with an independently measured media value of coverage exceeding 3 million Euros by the end of the year.

Rick Andrews, Head of iShares Marketing, Europe:

'It is so innovative, it is so new that for our clients to be a part of this is just fantastic. Their friends are talking about it, the newspapers are covering it, TV is covering it and they can actually go home and say I was there!

'This is the future of sailing and I would like to thank all the teams and partners who have helped make the event such a success. My special congratulations to Alinghi who won a closely fought battle to take the 2008 iShares Cup.'

Plans are already well advanced for the next three years, as Gilles Chiorri OC Events Director confirms: 'We're close to confirming venues for the European Series in 2009, but are also moving ahead with pathfinder events in the Middle-East and Australasia which a vision for stand-alone series in those regions from 2010. We expect the European series in 2009 to be bigger and better again, working more closely with the host cities bidding for the event to create an even better entertainment product.'

Over 25 teams have already expressed an interest to compete in next year's circuit and it's not difficult to see why. 'We will be back next year - that is not a discussion! And we are looking forward to 2009. It's absolutely sure that the iShares Cup circuit will be part of our marketing strategy - our sales people are already working to invite the best customers. The series in Europe is really hot and I'm pleasantly surprised that all the top sailors really want to come to the circuit, and all the credit for that goes to OC Events,' commented Jaap Meijer, CEO Holmatro.

Overall Results iShares Cup 2008:
1st Alinghi, 46 points
2nd TeamOrigin, 41 points
3rd BT, 34 points
4th Oman Sail, 29 points
5th Holmatro, 27 points
6th JPMorgan Asset Management, 26 points
7th Team Aqua, 22 points
8th Volvo Ocean Race, 17 points
9th iShares, 17 points
10th Tommy Hilfiger, 14 points

Fifth round results iShares Cup - Amsterdam:
1st Alinghi, 102 points
2nd BT, 82 points
3rd TeamOrigin, 74 points
4th Oman Sail, 73 points
5th Holmatro, 70 points
6th JPMorgan Asset Management, 61 points
7th Tommy Hilfiger 55 points
8th iShares, 54 points
9th Volvo Ocean Race, 45 points
10th Team Aqua, 41 points