From FRA 1 (ITA 1) to SUI 100 - sail number 100

by Camille Elbeze on 1 Apr 2007 Since the America’s Cup Class was introduced as the new design for the Cup in San Diego in 1992 the class has reached sail number 100, although not all the sail numbers assigned resulted in boats that were completed. On the Swiss defender, Alinghi, there are three French crew members whose sailing CVs span the full history of the ACC class, from FRA 1 through to Alinghi’s latest boat SUI 100.

Christian Karcher, Bernard Labro and Yann Gouniot recall the chaotic beginnings of the class, when the French and the Italians argued over who was going to be allocated sail number No.1. When the French team launched its yacht in March 1990, skipper Marc Pajot claimed the right to own the coveted No.1. However, it wasn’t as simple as that, as Alinghi grinder Christian Karcher remembers: 'There was a hilarious argument between us and the Italians. Although our boat had already been christened and had been sailing for a week, the official measurer Ken McAlpine visited the Italians' base first. It is thought that Raul Gardini [the Italian business tycoon and flamboyant owner of the Il Moro de Venezia team] did everything in his power to get No.1.'

Yann Gouniot admits: 'They had some claim to the number, because they were the Challenger of Record.' However, neither team would give ground. On the VHF radio in their races against each other, the French announced themselves as FRA 1 challenging ITA 2, the Il Moro crew skippered by Paul Cayard. Silence on the radio until...over the airwaves come the Italians, announcing themselves as ITA 1 calling FRA 2. 'Neither team was prepared to back down,' says Karcher, laughing.

A fully refined class

Fifteen years and five America's Cups later, many things have changed. The ACC boats have become nearly a metre narrower in beam and the mainsails have gone from triangular to almost rectangular in shape, as sail designers look for ways of harnessing the stronger wind at mast height.

Bowman in 1992 and bowman today for Alinghi, Bernard Labro says: 'My job on the bow has not really changed that much. I'm still having to handle huge sails, but whereas the spinnaker poles weighed 45-50kg back then, these days they weigh closer to 30kg. In 12 knots of breeze, it used to feel like a war zone. At 16 knots, you started to look up at the mast and pray it stayed up. These days we're racing in 28 knots or more.'

Genoa trimmer in 1992 and now mainsail trimmer for Alinghi, Yann Gouniot comments: 'The design and construction of the boats has changed immensely. Now we are using a higher modulus of carbon fibre, and the masts are much stronger. Back then, even with three sets of spreaders the masts were in severe danger of breaking.' Labro adds: 'Compared with today's boats, FRA 1 was a dinosaur even if it represented cutting edge technology at the time. They were still the Formula One machines of the seas, and that is why Marc Pajot referred to that first ACC boat as 'F1'.'

These days the French trio on Alinghi are older but wiser. Alinghi's new boat SUI 100 is a good deal more developed than its predecessor FRA 1. Alinghi technical director Michel Marie, who worked on Pajot's team in 1992, says: 'SUI 100 is the most beautiful boat I have ever built.'

Karcher is equally enthusiastic. 'It is the result of years and years of experimenting. And it really is the boat that the team asked for. It has been designed around our desire for ultimate simplicity.'

Gouniot says the cockpit layout works beautifully. 'Our aim was for simplicity, although the workings of the boat below decks are anything but simple, but of course the details of that are secret!' Both SUI 91 and SUI 100 have been beautifully put together, and Bernard Labro says the proof lies in the fact that within 24 hours of the boat arriving in Valencia for the first time, the sailing team was out on the water engaged in speed testing.

As to which boat Alinghi will use for Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 next week, we will have to wait and see. Whether it's SUI 91 or SUI 100, it will be the first time the challengers have had the chance to compete and gauge themselves against a new-generation Alinghi boat.

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