Alinghi wins third consecutive multihull Championship on Lake Geneva

by Daphne Morgan Barnicoat. Alinghi Media on 20 Sep 2009
The Alinghi Décision 35 team, led by Ernesto Bertarelli, won the Challenge Julius Baer multihull series for the third consecutive year.

Alinghi has competed in every D35 championship on Lake Geneva since the 35ft one-design series began in 2004 and this year, as in recent events, the crew of six has been up against some of the most talented multihull sailors in the world throughout the summer-long 12-boat series. The illustrious roll call includes some of Alinghi's own America's Cup team members: Loïck Peyron and Alain Gautier, as well as Michel Desjoyeaux, Franck Cammas, Pascal Bidégorry and Karine Fauconnier among others.

Alinghi, helmed by team president Ernesto Bertarelli, won two of the events this year and ranked second in three. Saturday's performance in Lausanne-Ouchy secured the championship victory for the America's Cup Defender with Loïck Peyron's Okalys in second place, just ahead of Alain Gautier on Foncia.

'I am very happy with the result, especially as the level this year has been really high and the fight for the championship has been tight from the start. To finish ahead of Alain Gautier [helmsman on Foncia] and Loïck Peyron [helmsman on Okalys-Corum] is an honour as a helmsman because it's difficult to find someone as good as them in the world of multihulls,' said Ernesto Bertarelli. 'Our result is entirely due to our crew. All sailing boats have to be sailed with everyone doing their job as best they can and we are particularly lucky to have very good people in every single position; it's a comprehensive victory for all the crew,' he added.

Alinghi has recently completed its sea trials in Genoa, Italy, and will continue to train and test its giant catamaran towards the 33rd America's Cup in Ras al-Khaimah scheduled to start on 8 February 2010. 'Our full focus is on Alinghi 5, we have many things to implement and many things to learn from the boat so there are many hours to put in on the water,' concluded Ernesto Bertarelli.

The team will recommence training in mid-October in the UAE.

Alinghi SUI1 crew

Ernesto Bertarelli, helmsman
Pierre-Yves Jorand, mainsail trimmer and performance
Nils Frei, trimmer
Yves Detrey, bow/mastman and boat captain
Tanguy Cariou, tactician
Coraline Jonet, trimmer