Thierry Martinez

Perhaps preparation will need to continue for the Swiss America's Cup defenders until July 2009 as Alinghi's Ernesto Bertarelli insists.

The prospect of match racing two 90 foot multihulls must look less appealing to the Alinghi camp after they capsized the 60 foot trimaran Foncia in 20 knots of wind and relatively lumpy seas off Lorient France yesterday.

The 34th America's Cup Defender’s team Alinghi was training in 20 knots of wind when the trimaran capsized.

Ed Baird (USA) was at the helm. Alain Gautier (FRA) skipper of the trimaran was on deck working with some other crew.

Two Alinghi members were injured, they were taken to hospital by helicopter. The latest news is they are OK.

Team New Zealand's Grant Dalton believes that Alinghi is so far behind in their project development that they may as well concede defeat now and let negotiations for a 35th America's Cup series with a full set of challengers begin immediately.

Here are some images of Foncia being towed back in Lorient’s port after a messy capsize offshore.

Thierry Martinez

Thierry Martinez

by Bob Maxwell

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