GBR America's Cup Team Origin buy Alinghi's SUI-75
by Tim Kelly Pitch PR on 22 May 2007
SUI-75 purchased by the British Team Origin as training boat Thierry Martinez/Alinghi - Copyright
Team Origin, Britain’s bid to enter the 33rd America’s Cup, today announced its intention to purchase its first America’s Cup Class training boat – SUI 75 – the training and testing boat used by Alinghi, the current Defenders of the Cup, during the pre-regatta Acts in 2005-2006.
SUI 75 was built by Alinghi at the Decision Boatyard in Vevey, Switzerland. It left Switzerland on 6th March 2002 and was launched in New Zealand. SUI 75 was used in New Zealand during the 31st America’s Cup for testing and racing and was developed alongside SUI 64.
Alinghi used SUI 64 in the AC Match where it won the 31st America’s Cup but there was little perceived performance difference between the two boats. Alinghi raced SUI 75 during the 2005 and 2006 Acts in the build-up period of the 32nd America’s Cup.
Mike Sanderson, Team Director of Team Origin, commented,
'This is a really important step for Team Origin, buying our first training boat of the calibre of SUI 75 means we are tapping into one of the fastest training boats around. We are also able to get hold of it without delay meaning that we can push forward our planning and be on the water here in Valencia as early as July 2007. We are continuing our progress in buying a second top quality training boat and other necessary assets to progress team preparations.'
Team Origin plans to re-brand SUI 75 and it will later become GBR 75. It will be re-assembled and commissioned in Valencia and undergo a short test sail shortly after the end of the 32nd America’s Cup in July 2007.
About Team Origin
Team Origin was launched in January 2007 by Sir Keith Mills and is aiming to make sailing history by becoming the first British challenger ever to win the America’s Cup.
Team Director Mike Sanderson, the record-breaking ISAF World Sailor of the Year 2006 and winning skipper of the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race, is seeking to bring together the best talent and highest quality assets to create a world-beating team.
Team Origin has committed to participate in at least two America’s Cup campaigns, the 33rd and 34th editions of the event, likely to take place in 2009 and 2011. The team will be funded through a combination of private and commercial investment.
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