Alinghi Red Bull Racing leaves on a high
by Alinghi Red Bull Racing 18 Sep 2024 11:03 PDT
17-22 September 2024
Alinghi Red Bull Racing leaves on a high - Louis Vuitton Cup Semi Finals © Alinghi Red Bull Racing / Samo Vidic
Day 4 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals brought an end to Alinghi Red Bull Racing's bid for the 37th America's Cup after Ineos Britannia beat them 5-2 in the first-to-five Semi-Finals.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Swiss Challenger who showed a strong performance on their last day in the competition.
Despite a strong victory in the first race of the day, Alinghi Red Bull Racing lost a hard-fought fifth point to Ineos Britannia, marking the end of a remarkable campaign.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing - a team formed in December 2021 through the collaboration between Alinghi, twice winner of the America's Cup and Red Bull, a performance oriented global brand with a strong multi-sport track record - clearly had higher ambitions.
The team's vision captured the imagination of all those who like sporting challenges and admire those who dare to take the hard path. This has given a chance to young Swiss sailors to compete against seasoned teams such as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Ineos Britannia for the oldest trophy in sports.
Skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis: "I don't know exactly what's going through my mind. I think it's over. We started to sail the boat pretty well yesterday and today, but it was too late. It's been a privilege to be here and to be part of this competition. Massive thanks to all the guys, to all the shore team, boat builders, the designers, the supporters, to the partners, and particularly the team principals for giving us the opportunity to do this. The boat performed well, but we missed some opportunities on the sailing side."
Hans-Peter Steinacher, twice-Olympic gold medalist and board member: "The guys put up a strong fight until the end. It is a difficult day for everyone on the team, but we're proud of what we've accomplished over the past three years. Although we're out of the competition, Alinghi Red Bull Racing will keep sailing BoatOne in Barcelona to further refine its design and performance."
Ernesto Bertarelli, Team Chairman: "I am proud of this team and the partnership with Red Bull. We would have liked to go further, but that's what sport is all about. Congratulations to Ineos Britannia for their performance. They are quick and make few mistakes, and we wish them all the best for the rest of the competition. I would like to thank the team's partners and the fans for the massive support received during the lead up to the competition and in the last few weeks, both around the world and here in Barcelona during the dock-outs which have made memorable and emotional moments."