After completely dominating the 2005 America’s Cup season with five of six Louis Vuitton Act titles, the defender of the 32nd America’s Cup fell back into the fleet a little bit in 2006. But the results should be looked at carefully; whilst all the top challengers were sailing new boats, Alinghi was staying very competitive racing SUI 75, a boat built, but not raced, during the last America’s Cup campaign in Auckland.
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The Swiss finished the 2006 season with a winning record (2-0) over BMW ORACLE Racing and an even record against Luna Rossa (2-2). In fact, it was only the season champion Emirates Team New Zealand who was able to give the defender some serious trouble. Alinghi managed just a 1-4 record against the Kiwis.
The defender finished equal with Emirates Team New Zealand on points for the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC Championship and had they not lost the three-way tie-break in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10 to finish fourth, would have won the season outright. Taken in context then, the results of 2006 show Alinghi remains a powerhouse team and the measuring stick for all of the challengers as the 2007 season opens.
"We certainly respect the other three big teams […] So we watch them closely, just like they watch us"
Brad Butterworth
Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth says he’s proud of Alinghi’s record against the top challengers, but is very aware of the group of excellent teams working frantically to pry the America’s Cup from Alinghi’s hands.
“We’re not so much frightened by them, but we certainly respect the other three big teams - BMW ORACLE Racing, Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand…you’d be a fool if you didn’t think they were capable of winning,” Butterworth says. “So we watch them closely, just like they watch us.”
Taking stock
“I think we’re okay. We’re in reasonably good shape,” says Grant Simmer, Managing Director and design coordinator, when asked to reflect on where his team stands. “But the trick with this game is that everybody is moving all of the time, and everybody has slightly different priorities at different times, so it can be hard to gauge your performance.”
Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 11
As defender, Alinghi must compete in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, but then won’t race a meaningful contest until the America’s Cup Match in late June. In the meantime the challengers are fighting for the Louis Vuitton Cup and a place in the Match.
What this means is that Alinghi can theoretically take longer to design and build its boats and still have plenty of time to develop their potential. Its priority has been different from the challengers who must begin winning races in April.
This isn’t unusual; in the last two America’s Cups, Team New Zealand, as the defender, held the last sail numbers issued in the cycle. Alinghi took delivery of SUI 91 in May (the latest ‘first’ boat for two-boat teams) and hasn’t yet confirmed whether they hold ACC 100, but it would be surprising to most observers if they didn’t.
Alinghi - Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10
“The focus for us has been mainly on performance up until now. Next year, we change into getting ready to race more in terms of boat handling, tactics, and starting,” confirmed Grant Simmer. “A lot of the other teams have been more focused on that already and I think it’s safe to say that the other top teams are at a higher level than us in that area. We saw that in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12. Emirates Team New Zealand definitely sailed better than us, but we were pleased to still be competitive in SUI 75.”
A large part of that performance focus falls on the competition for the helmsman position. Aware that they wouldn’t be facing any other teams in following Act 13 in early April, Alinghi has recruited a sailing team filled with talent and depth. The idea is to have in-house racing that is the equal of anything they could find were they racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup. The team has three top-flight helmsmen in Peter Holmberg, Jochen Schuemann and Ed Baird. That’s a nice amount of depth in a critical position, but only one can hold the wheel when the America’s Cup Match begins. Could this depth lead to internal problems as the battle rages to be on the wheel in June?
Brad Butterworth
The skipper doesn’t think so: “We’re lucky with the guys we have,” Butterworth says. “They’re very mature; they’ve been through the Cup before…we’re lucky to have Jochen, Peter and Ed. They work together, they share ideas, and I don’t see any problem.
“I think we’ll go with just one guy. We’ll make that decision after Christmas, or around that time. We’re spoiled for choice. The best guy is going to be sailing the boat. The helmsman position is like any other position on the boat. It’s up for scrutiny and the best guy on any part of the boat is the guy who is going to sail.”
That means the decision will likely be announced from Dubai where Alinghi has set up a winter sailing camp. Citing sailing conditions that mimic Valencia in June, the Swiss set up shop with SUI 64 and the new SUI 91, and plans to return to Spain in March.
Fundamentally strong
Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12
With its team comprised of sailors with a massive amount of America’s Cup experience, Alinghi looks to be in good shape to mount a competitive defence. Experience breeds confidence, and Alinghi’s skipper isn’t fazed by anything he’s seen so far.
“The same rules apply as always (in the America’s Cup),” Butterworth says. “You have to have a fast boat and sail it well. You need a strong team around you or else you’re just not going to get there at the end. Those fundamentals are the same.”
Statistics
Alinghi earned its maximum winning delta, 6:05, in its second race of the season, Flight 2, Match 2 of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10 over China Team.
Its minimum winning delta was just 8-seconds over Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team during Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10.
The first defeat for the Swiss against a new boat built for the 32nd America’s Cup came against Luna Rossa in ITA 86 during Flight 5, Match 5 of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10.
During Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 11 Alinghi won three out of five races with a (6, 1, 1, 3, 1) scoreline.
Alinghi suffered its closest defeat (16 seconds) to Emirates Team New Zealand during Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 10.
Alinghi has won two races when it was trailing on the last leg. Both comebacks took place in Louis Vuitton Act 12. The first in the semi-finals against Luna Rossa, and then again in the Finals against Emirates Team New Zealand.
Alinghi’s worst result of the season was a defeat by 1:24 against Emirates Team New Zealand during the last race of the 2006 season when the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12 title and the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC Season Championship were at stake.
In 2006, Alinghi has beaten every team at least once, suffering losses to Emirates Team New Zealand (4), Luna Rossa Challenge (2) and Victory Challenge (1).
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