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Alinghi
Alinghi
Career
Yacht club Société Nautique de Genève
Established1994
Nation Switzerland
Team principal(s)Ernesto Bertarelli
SkipperErnesto Bertarelli
Notable victories2003 Louis Vuitton Cup
2003 America's Cup
2007 America's Cup
8 times D35 Trophy
7 times Bol d'Or
4 times Extreme Sailing Series
2019 GC32 World Champion and GC32 Racing Tour winner
Yachts
Sail no.Boat name
SUI–64SUI 64
SUI–91SUI 91
SUI–100SUI 100
SUIAlinghi 5

Alinghi, or Alinghi Red Bull Racing because of the sports marketing branding by Red Bull, is the competitive sailing syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup, and other competitions. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup. Alinghi challenged for and won the 2003 America's Cup in Auckland New Zealand and successfully defended it at the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, Spain. Alinghi lost the America's Cup to the Golden Gate Yacht Club and their team BMW Oracle Racing in a Deed of Gift match in Valencia, Spain in February 2010.

For the 2003 event, Team New Zealand as the holder of the America's Cup, in consultation with Prada, the Challenger of Record, removed the nationality rule that stipulated that all of the crew members must be nationals of the challenging syndicate.

Alinghi took full advantage of this rule change and hired many of the world's top America's Cup sailors particularly from New Zealand. New Zealanders saw the defection of key members of Team New Zealand to Alinghi as an act of disloyalty to their home country—understandable against a background of strong nationwide public support for Team New Zealand that they saw as representing their country rather than just representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.[1]

After a series of discussions with Team New Zealand it was announced that they would compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in 2009.

In July 2010, it appeared that the team was being disbanded and would not compete in future America's Cups.[2] On 26 November 2010, Alinghi formally confirmed that it would not participate in the 2013 America's Cup.[3]

In December 2021 Ernesto Bertarelli announced the launch of the new Alinghi Red Bull Racing to compete in the 37th America's Cup.[4] Arnaud Psarofaghis will serve as Skipper.[5]

America's Cup

[edit]

2003 challenge

[edit]
Further information: 2003 America's Cup and 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup

Coinciding with the change in the nationality rules concerning the crew and in order to maximize the chances of success, Alinghi hired Russell Coutts, the successful skipper and helmsman of Team New Zealand. Coutts had already won the America's Cup for New Zealand in 1995 and successfully defended for New Zealand in 2000. Along with Coutts came several other important Kiwi sailors, including Team New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth. Grant Simmer, another America's Cup veteran, joined as managing director and head of design. Bertarelli, the syndicate's president, served as navigator during the racing.

Apart from New Zealand, the Alinghi team consisted of members from Germany, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Portugal, Turkey, Ireland, the UK (from Scotland and Wales), Belgium, South Africa, Australia, Uruguay, Argentina, Denmark, Ecuador, and Switzerland.

The Alinghi boats for the 2003 challenge, SUI-64 (the race boat) and the SUI-75, were developed specifically for the race by the Alinghi team in close collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Alinghi also had a test yacht from the 2000 America's cup, SUI-59 (formerly called Fast 2000).

Alinghi raced to a 5–0 victory against Team New Zealand on 2 March 2003, winning the America's Cup.

They guaranteed themselves a further stake in the history books by becoming the first team since the inaugural race in 1851 to return the America's Cup to Europe and for being the first team to win the Cup on its first attempt.

Alinghi's stated vision was "to win the America's Cup, while earning respect and recognition as a world class sports team as well as sharing our passion".

Due to this victory, Team Alinghi received one of the highest honors in sport, the Olympic Cup in 2004. The Coupe Olympique is an award given annually by the International Olympic Committee.[6]

2007 defense

[edit]
Further information: 2007 America's Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup 2007
The boats SUI 91 and SUI 100.

Team Alinghi fired its skipper Russell Coutts on 27 April 2004. Immediately beforehand, Alinghi (via America's Cup Management) changed the America's Cup Rules to prevent any team members from moving between teams until the completion of the 2007 America's Cup. Alinghi, as the then current holders of the America's Cup, were fully entitled to change the rule. Nine months later the conflict was ended with a short statement.[7][8][9]

The sailing team was extended again and was led for the 2007 campaign by Brad Butterworth, Alinghi's tactician and vice-president. Butterworth was highly experienced in America's Cup racing having sailed aboard the winning boat in the three previous competitions. Butterworth's team had many world-class sailors including Peter Holmberg, Ed Baird, Juan Vila, Jordi Calafat, Warwick Fleury, Simon Daubney, and Murray Jones. Jochen Schümann, winner of four Olympic medals, was the sports director for the sailing team.

Alinghi participated in all Louis Vuitton Acts, along with the 11 challengers from nine nations, before defending the America's Cup during the Match Race in June 2007. UBS, and BT Infonet renewed their commitment to the team as Main Partners for the next four years, along with Audemars Piguet, SGS, Nespresso, MSC Cruises, WISeKey and North Sails as co sponsors. Alinghi's first America's Cup defeat came on 24 June 2007 when they were defeated by Emirates Team New Zealand in the second race of the 2007 America's Cup off Valencia.

After a series of close races between the seemingly closely matched competitors, Alinghi won their final race against Emirates Team New Zealand on 3 July 2007, defending the America's Cup with five wins to Team New Zealand's two.

2010 defense

[edit]
Main article: 2010 America's Cup

America's Cup Management announced on 5 July 2007 that the protocol for the 2010 America's Cup had been agreed between the defending yacht club, Société Nautique de Genève of Switzerland, and the Challenger of Record, the Club Náutico Español de Vela of Spain. However this arrangement did not survive a legal challenge from BMW Oracle Racing, who successfully argued that Club Náutico Español de Vela was not a valid Challenger of Record due to non-compliance with the terms of the America's Cup Deed of Gift.[clarification needed] Swiss based companies WISeKey and Hublot were the two primary sponsors of Alinghi's 2010 defense.[10]

After extensive court action, Golden Gate Yacht Club (whose team is BMW Oracle Racing) was declared Challenger of Record and sailed against Alinghi in a Deed of Gift match in February 2010 at Valencia, Spain.[11][12] The competing boats, Alinghi 5 and USA 17, were both 90-foot multihulls. USA 17's rigid wing sail provided a decisive advantage and Golden Gate Yacht Club won the 2010 America's Cup two races to none.

2023 challenge

[edit]

On 14 December 2021 Alinghi announced a joint-venture with Red Bull. Alinghi founder Ernesto Bertarelli and two-time Olympic champion Hans-Peter Steinacher announced the launch of the new Alinghi Red Bull Racing and presented its logo at the Société Nautique de Genève.[13][14]

Arnaud Psarofaghis will serve as Skipper.[15]

D35 Trophy, Bol d'Or, Extreme Sailing Series, GC32 Racing Tour

[edit]

Bol d'Or

[edit]
Year Boat Skipper Time
1997 Trimaran Ernesto Bertarelli
Pierre-Yves Jorand		 6h 54m 09s
2000 Catamaran Ernesto Bertarelli
Pierre-Yves Jorand		 6h 15m 56s
2001 Catamaran Ernesto Bertarelli
Pierre-Yves Jorand		 8h 57m 11s
2002 Catamaran Ernesto Bertarelli 12h 07m 34s
2003 Catamaran Ernesto Bertarelli 9h 56m 53s
2011 Décision 35 Ernesto Bertarelli 6h 25m 50s
2017 Décision 35 Ernesto Bertarelli
Arnaud Psarofaghis		 5h 11m 00s

Decision 35 Trophy

[edit]
Year Skipper Place
2004 Ernesto Bertarelli 3rd
2005 Ernesto Bertarelli 2nd
2006 Ernesto Bertarelli 2nd
2007 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st
2008 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st
2009 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st
2010 Ernesto Bertarelli 2nd
2011 Ernesto Bertarelli 2nd
2012 Ernesto Bertarelli 2nd
2013 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st
2014 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st
2015 Ernesto Bertarelli 2nd
2016 Ernesto Bertarelli 2nd
2017 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st
2018 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st
2019 Ernesto Bertarelli 1st

Alinghi has also competed in the Extreme Sailing Series (winning it four times) and in the GC32 Racing Tour (winning it one time) and was GC32 World Champion in 2019.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alinghi

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Alinghi is a Swiss professional sailing syndicate founded in 2000 by pharmaceutical entrepreneur to compete in high-level , most notably the , where it became the first European team to win the prestigious trophy in 2003 and successfully defended it in 2007. Representing the Société Nautique de Genève, the team has emphasized innovation in boat design and crew performance, drawing on a mix of international talent while maintaining Swiss roots. In December 2021, Alinghi formed a strategic partnership with , rebranding as Alinghi Red Bull Racing to challenge for the 37th in , , where it reached the semi-finals of the Cup before elimination. The team's foiling monohull, BoatOne, was designed by Marcelino Botín and built in Ecublens, . The team selected a crew of 16 sailors, divided into driving (7) and power (9) groups, with an average age of 30; the on-water crew for the AC75 consisted of 8 members. Alinghi also fielded competitive entries in the Youth and Women's America's Cups during the 2024 event, underscoring its commitment to developing diverse talent in the sport. As of November 2025, Alinghi's participation in the 38th remains uncertain following disputes over protocol changes and venue announcements, with the team having initially withdrawn in April 2025 but declining to confirm its status amid ongoing negotiations. Supported by major partners including TUDOR, , and , Alinghi continues to embody Swiss precision and passion in sailing, with a legacy of two Cup victories that elevated the nation's profile in international .

History and Founding

Origins and Ernesto Bertarelli's Vision

, a Swiss billionaire born in in 1965, built his fortune through the industry as the leader of , a company originally founded in 1906 by Cesare Serono and later controlled by his family, inherited by him following his father's death in 1998. Bertarelli expanded into a global powerhouse, specializing in treatments like the drug Rebif, before selling it in 2007 for $13.3 billion. His lifelong passion for sailing stemmed from family yachting traditions, including summers spent on the Mediterranean coast near , , where he learned the sport on family boats, and later on after his family relocated to in 1977. In the late 1990s, Bertarelli's ambition crystallized around challenging the America's Cup, viewing it as the pinnacle of sailing and an opportunity to showcase Switzerland's engineering prowess and precision despite the nation's lack of coastline. Motivated by a childhood dream of competing in the event—where the team name Alinghi originated from imaginative play with his sister—he sought to break traditions by mounting a Swiss bid as a non-traditional challenger nation. This vision emphasized innovation and multidisciplinary excellence, drawing parallels to Swiss watchmaking and biotechnology for their focus on reliability and cutting-edge design. Alinghi was formally established in as the racing syndicate of the Société Nautique de Genève, with Bertarelli serving as principal owner and initial skipper, positioning it to represent in the 31st . The initiative transformed the yacht club into a platform for high-level competitive , blending Bertarelli's personal drive with national pride. The project's early resources came primarily from Bertarelli's personal fortune, enabling substantial investments in design, technology, and talent acquisition without reliance on external sponsorship at the outset. Key to this was the recruitment of international experts, including tactician Brad Butterworth, whose experience from multiple campaigns helped instill a winning culture from the team's inception. This strategic assembly laid the groundwork for Alinghi's operational buildup in the years ahead.

Early Competitions and Team Formation

Following Ernesto Bertarelli's vision to bring the to , the Alinghi syndicate began assembling its core team in 2000 by recruiting key talent from the sailing world. In May 2000, , the skipper who had just led to victory in the 31st , was hired as Alinghi's CEO and skipper, bringing his extensive experience to the new challenge. Shortly thereafter, Brad Butterworth joined as tactician, also defecting from , forming a strong leadership nucleus of New Zealand veterans. Over the next two years, the syndicate expanded rapidly, building a shore team exceeding 100 members specialized in , composites engineering, and to support the high-stakes campaign. Parallel to team recruitment, Alinghi invested heavily in boat development to comply with the (IACC) rules, focusing on lightweight materials for enhanced speed and stability. The syndicate acquired the previous Swiss challenger SUI 59 in 2001, modifying its unconventional tandem to a standard fixed single with a for better handling during initial sea trials. By mid-2002, the team had completed design and construction of its primary race boat, SUI 64, and training SUI 75, both constructed from advanced carbon fiber and honeycomb composites to reduce weight while maximizing structural integrity under IACC constraints. These vessels incorporated hydrodynamic optimizations, including refined hull shapes and sail plans, developed through extensive tank testing and simulations at the team's facilities. To refine crew coordination and validate boat performance ahead of the 2003 challenge, Alinghi engaged in targeted preparatory regattas in 2002. The team competed in the Tour, where helmed in match racing events that honed tactical skills and boat-handling under pressure. Additional tune-up sessions included local Swiss lake events and informal races in , allowing the crew to build on the water. Alinghi established dual operational bases to facilitate year-round preparation, with headquarters in for design and administration, and a dedicated training facility in Auckland, , operational from late 2001. This base enabled intensive winter sessions on the , mimicking race conditions and leveraging local expertise for southern hemisphere campaigns.

America's Cup Campaigns

2003 Challenge and Victory

Alinghi, representing the Société Nautique de Genève, entered the 2003 Cup as one of nine challengers in , , competing in a series of round-robins, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final to determine the right to face defending champion . The team advanced through the quarterfinals by defeating Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes and progressed to the semifinals, where they overcame Racing. Meanwhile, , a strong American syndicate, was eliminated in the semifinal after a 4-0 loss to Racing. In the Cup final, Alinghi decisively defeated Racing 5-1, securing the challenger spot with consistent boatspeed and tactical prowess in the best-of-nine series. The match began on February 15, 2003, in the , pitting Alinghi against in a best-of-nine series. In Race 1, under stiff breezes, received a penalty for a premature start, allowing Alinghi—skippered by —to take an early lead and win convincingly by building a substantial margin around the windward mark. Alinghi maintained dominance throughout, sweeping the series 5-0 with methodical execution in variable conditions, culminating in Race 5 on March 2, where they crossed the finish line 28 seconds ahead to claim the 31st . This victory marked a clean sweep, the first since 1992, and highlighted Alinghi's superior preparation and crew synergy. Central to Alinghi's success was their , SUI-64 (Alinghi 1), designed by principal naval Rolf Vrolijk in collaboration with a team including Grant Simmer. The featured refined hydrodynamic appendages optimized for upwind through testing and computational modeling, emphasizing low drag and efficient lift generation without radical departures from the rule. Innovations in sail trim, supported by ' advanced membrane technology and precise control systems, allowed for dynamic adjustments that maximized power in light and heavy airs, contributing to the boat's versatility across the regatta. Alinghi's triumph represented a historic milestone, as became the first non-English-speaking nation to win the after 152 years of competition, bringing the trophy to for the first time and to a . The win, held by the Société Nautique de Genève, ignited national pride in , fostering a surge in youth participation known as the "Alinghi Generation" and underscoring the team's blend of international expertise and Swiss precision.

2007 Defense in Valencia

Following their victory in the 31st , Alinghi, as defenders, selected , , as the venue for the 32nd edition, bringing the event to for the first time since 1851 and allowing the Swiss team to dictate key protocols such as the race format and course design. The Mediterranean setting provided more temperate and variable winds than the stronger gusts of , , influencing preparations across all teams. This shift built on the foundation of Alinghi's 2003 success, enabling a structured defense strategy in a controlled environment. Alinghi oversaw the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series, which included 11 syndicates competing in a multi-stage format with round robins, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. Emirates Team New Zealand emerged as the challenger after decisively defeating the Italian team Luna Rossa Challenge 5-0 in the Louis Vuitton Cup final, securing their spot in the Cup match. The series highlighted intense competition, with tactical sailing and boat speed determining advancement in the shifty Valencian breezes. The Cup match unfolded as a best-of-nine series between Alinghi's SUI-100 and New Zealand's NZL-92, with Emirates Team New Zealand taking an early 2-1 lead through strong starts and upwind performance. Alinghi rallied to win the next four races, clinching the defense 5-2 on July 3, 2007, in a thrilling seventh race decided by just one second amid dying winds and a dramatic tacking on the final leg. Key tactical decisions, including skipper Ed Baird's aggressive pre-start maneuvers and precise crew shifts in the variable Mediterranean conditions—often 8-12 knots with frequent shifts—proved decisive in exploiting small advantages. Alinghi's SUI-100 represented an from their , incorporating refined hydrodynamics and carbon-fiber to better suit Valencia's lighter and more inconsistent airs. Improvements in appendages, such as optimized fins and rudders, enhanced maneuverability and speed in sub-10-knot winds, allowing superior pointing and acceleration during critical phases. This well-rounded , developed through extensive modeling, minimized drag while maintaining stability across wind ranges typical of the venue.

2010 Defense and Loss

The defense of the 33rd America's Cup by Alinghi, representing Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), was overshadowed by significant protocol controversies stemming from disputes over challenger selection. The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), backing BMW Oracle Racing, filed a lawsuit in 2007 challenging SNG's designation of Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) as Challenger of Record, alleging it was a proxy controlled by Alinghi to favor their interests and violate the Deed of Gift's requirements for a bona fide foreign yacht club challenge. In December 2008, the New York Supreme Court ruled in favor of GGYC, stripping CNEV of its status and designating BMW Oracle Racing as the official challenger, which forced the match into a Deed of Gift format without a traditional regatta structure. This legal resolution compelled both teams to compete in multihulls, as the Deed allowed for such vessels if no mutual protocol was agreed upon. Internally, Alinghi underwent notable adjustments following their 2007 victory, including the departure of key figure , who left after a dispute with team principal and joined Oracle Racing as CEO. The team transitioned from the monohull Alinghi 2 to building Alinghi 5, a 90-foot launched in 2009, requiring crew retraining for handling, higher speeds, and soft sails compared to the challenger's rigid wing design. Leadership remained with Brad Butterworth as skipper and helmsman, supported by a core crew including tactician Jochen Schümann, bowmen like Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen, and grinder Rodney Ardern, though the shift emphasized adaptability to the catamaran's dynamics. The match unfolded in , , in February 2010, with the first attempted race on postponed due to light and unpredictable winds that failed to stabilize for over four hours. In Race 1 on , Alinghi 5 started ahead by 1 minute 27 seconds but was overtaken by USA 17's superior upwind performance, finishing 15 minutes 25 seconds behind. Race 2 on February 14 saw BMW Oracle Racing win by 5 minutes 26 seconds, securing a 2-0 in the best-of-three series, as Alinghi 5 struggled with sail changes and could not match the trimaran's efficiency. The wide margins highlighted the technological disparity, particularly USA 17's 223-square-meter rigid wing sail. The loss marked the end of Alinghi's consecutive defenses and their initial era of dominance, with the Cup returning to the after 15 years. In the aftermath, Bertarelli announced his withdrawal from future campaigns, leading to the team's effective disbandment by late and no participation in the 34th in 2013. This defeat shifted the event's focus toward innovative designs and prompted broader governance reforms in subsequent editions.

37th America's Cup Challenge (2024) as Alinghi Red Bull Racing

In December 2021, Alinghi, the Swiss syndicate founded by , partnered with to form Alinghi Red Bull Racing, marking the team's return to the competition after a 14-year absence. The partnership brought Red Bull's expertise in advanced technologies and substantial financial backing, enabling the development of high-performance foiling equipment and attracting top talent under co-presidents Bertarelli and two-time Olympic gold medalist Hans Peter Steinacher. Preparations intensified from 2023 to 2024, centered on designing and building an foiling in compliance with the event protocol. The team acquired and launched BoatZero, a second-hand from , on August 8, 2022, in , , establishing their base as the first challenger to operate there and using it for initial foiling trials and crew training. In January 2023, Alinghi received their first AC40 one-design foiler, which served as a development platform for maneuvers and match racing practice in Mediterranean conditions. The race-specific , constructed at Decision SA's facility in Ecublens, , was unveiled on April 6, 2024, and splashed on April 19, incorporating innovations like streamlined hull cutaways for enhanced hydrodynamics. Training sessions, primarily in , focused on high-speed foiling and tactical simulations, with over 135 minutes of sailing per session in early 2024 to refine crew synchronization among the eight-person team, including cyclors for propulsion. In the Cup challenger series held in from August to September 2024, Alinghi Red Bull Racing advanced from the round-robin stage with victories over teams like Racing Team and American Magic, securing progression to the semi-finals. Matched against INEOS Britannia in the semi-finals, the Swiss team struggled with a speed deficit exposed in foiling conditions, ultimately losing the first-to-five series 2-5 on September 18, 2024, and exiting the competition. Alinghi Red Bull Racing also fielded competitive entries in the inaugural Puig Women's , securing a podium finish in third place overall, and the UniCredit Youth , where the youth team advanced through the opening series but missed the final match-racing stage. By April 2025, the team announced an orderly wind-down of operations and withdrawal from considerations for the 38th in , citing concerns over protocol transparency and commercial viability. As of November 2025, the withdrawal stands, with the team confirming no participation in the 38th edition.

Other Sailing Activities

Lake Geneva Events: Bol d'Or and D35 Trophy

Alinghi has established itself as a dominant force in the Mirabaud, the premier annual endurance regatta on that spans approximately 160 kilometers around the lake's perimeter, drawing over 500 boats and thousands of participants each year. The team has secured seven overall victories in this iconic Swiss event, including notable wins in 1997, 2000, and 2017, showcasing their prowess in managing the race's demanding conditions of shifting winds and thermal effects unique to the alpine lake environment. In the 2017 edition, Alinghi clinched victory aboard a specialized , finishing in real time ahead of competitors like the Bertarelli family-owned Lady Cat, after a five-hour battle that highlighted the boat's speed and the crew's tactical precision. Complementing their Bol d'Or success, Alinghi has excelled in the D35 , a competitive one-design series featuring identical Decision 35 yachts optimized for 's fleet racing format, where tactical starts, mark roundings, and wind shifts are critical to success. The team has claimed the championship eight times since the series began in 2004, with consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018, the latter secured by a third-place finish in the season finale that underscored their consistency across multiple events. These triumphs often involved leveraging the D35's construction and agile handling to navigate the lake's unpredictable gusts and flat waters effectively. The D35 Trophy evolved into the TF35 Trophy starting in 2021, where Alinghi secured the overall championship in 2022, continuing their dominance in fleet racing. Alinghi's approach to these lake events emphasizes specialized adaptations, such as deploying catamarans and monohulls like the Decision 35 that are engineered for rapid acceleration and maneuverability in the confined, variable conditions of , where sudden calms or building thermals can dramatically alter race strategies. Crew rotations draw from the team's core sailors, including veterans like Arnaud Psarofaghis, who transition seamlessly from campaigns to helm these regional regattas, ensuring high-performance execution without compromising the event's endurance demands. Through consistent participation and victories in the Bol d'Or Mirabaud and D35 Trophy, Alinghi reinforces Swiss sailing heritage, operating from the Société Nautique de Genève—its home yacht club—which hosts the world's largest youth sailing program on Lake Geneva, fostering the next generation of sailors and embedding the team's successes within Switzerland's vibrant inland nautical tradition.

Extreme Sailing Series and GC32 Racing Tour

Following the 2010 defeat, Alinghi shifted its focus toward high-performance racing, particularly foiling catamarans, to advance technological development in speed and control systems while maintaining competitive edge in international circuits. This strategic pivot allowed the team to explore innovations in foil dynamics, enabling sustained foiling at speeds exceeding 35 knots, as demonstrated in training sessions where Alinghi set a GC32 class speed record of 39.21 knots on . Alinghi entered the Extreme Sailing Series in 2014, competing in the high-adrenaline, stadium-style format using Extreme 40 catamarans in urban venues such as , , and , . The team secured the overall championship that year, marking their second series title after an earlier win in 2008, through consistent performances across multiple acts, including victories in key races like the finale in . The series transitioned to GC32 foiling catamarans in 2016, aligning with Alinghi's expertise in multihull foiling, where the team adapted advanced foil control mechanisms to handle gusts up to 40 knots while minimizing drag during transitions. Alinghi clinched the 2016 championship, their third overall, with standout wins in acts like those in and , emphasizing precise helm work by skipper Morgan Larson. In 2018, under Arnaud Psarofaghis, Alinghi won the season finale in Los Cabos, , securing their fourth Extreme Sailing Series title and showcasing refined foil adjustments for variable wind conditions in close-quarters racing. Post-2018, with the Extreme Sailing Series concluding, Alinghi intensified involvement in the GC32 Racing Tour, a dedicated circuit for owner-driven foiling catamarans emphasizing endurance and speed across European and Mediterranean venues. The team achieved multiple podium finishes, including a dominant 2019 season where they won both the GC32 World Championship in —with eight victories in 18 races—and the overall tour title, highlighting innovations in automated foil rake adjustments for stability at high velocities. occasionally helmed the boat in select events, such as training and key regattas, blending owner involvement with professional crew dynamics. Alinghi continued GC32 Racing Tour participation into the early 2020s, securing titles in 2021 and 2022, following their 2019 victory, with no tour held in 2020 due to the ; notable results included victories like the GC32 Riva Cup on , , while using the circuit as a testing ground for foiling technologies transferable to campaigns. Following the 37th in 2024, Alinghi suspended operations and did not participate in the 2025 GC32 Racing Tour amid team wind-down.

Organization and Key Figures

Leadership and Crew Selection

Alinghi was created as a competitive sailing team by Swiss entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli in 1994 as the principal owner and driving force behind the team's entry into the America's Cup, with the syndicate formed in 2000, emphasizing a blend of national pride and international expertise to challenge the established sailing powers. Bertarelli, who also sailed as a crew member, assembled a core leadership group that included New Zealand's Russell Coutts as the initial CEO and skipper, leveraging Coutts' experience from multiple America's Cup campaigns to guide strategy and operations through the early successes. Later, operational leadership shifted to figures like Yves Detrey, a veteran sailor involved in boat preparation and sailing operations since the 2000s, contributing to logistical and on-water execution across campaigns. Crew selection for Alinghi has historically prioritized Swiss nationals to fulfill the nationality requirements while integrating global experts for specialized roles, evolving from a multinational mix in the early to an all-Swiss sailing team by 2024. Key criteria include technical proficiency, physical endurance, and adaptability, with examples such as trimmer Nils Frei, a Swiss national who joined in the early and contributed to the 2003 and 2007 victories, continuing in events, and operations specialist Yves Detrey, who combined local knowledge with Cup-winning experience from 2003 and 2007. For the 37th challenge as , the process began in 2021 with interviews, physical assessments, and on-water trials, resulting in a 16-member led by skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis, all Swiss citizens averaging 30 years old, divided into driving and power groups recruited partly from national and federations. This selection, overseen by figures like Pierre-Yves Jorand, emphasized collective decision-making and youth integration to build long-term talent, with continued involvement of key figures like Nils Frei and skipper Psarofaghis in youth and other programs post-2024. Alinghi's training philosophy centers on rigorous simulation, peak physical fitness, and cross-disciplinary skill development to prepare sailors for high-stakes racing conditions. The team employs advanced simulators, such as the integrated platform developed in for the 2024 campaign, to replicate maneuvers and refine tactics without on-water risks, complemented by fitness regimens drawing from to enhance endurance and power output. Cross-discipline training integrates youth academy participants, with programs like the 2023 Youth & Women's selections identifying promising sailors through multi-phase trials, fostering a pipeline from junior events on to professional Cup roles. Notable transitions in and crew occurred post-2010, following the loss of the defense, when the team paused major activities before rebuilding in 2021 through a partnership with , which influenced selections by prioritizing athletic versatility and Swiss exclusivity. This era saw Bertarelli reassume a visionary role alongside new operational leads like Detrey, shifting from veteran-heavy crews to a younger, all-domestic lineup under Psarofaghis, reflecting a renewed focus on national development and technological preparation.

Sponsorships and Partnerships

Alinghi's funding model in its formative years during the early relied heavily on Ernesto Bertarelli's personal derived from his family's pharmaceutical company, , which provided the bulk of the resources for the challenge. Complementing this were key Swiss corporate sponsors, such as , which served as a primary backer, alongside and watches, enabling the team's professional operations and visibility. These partnerships underscored a national pride-driven support structure, with additional contributors like the zipper manufacturer Riri contributing to an estimated total budget of around CHF 75 million for the initial campaign. Following the 2010 , Alinghi diversified its sponsorship portfolio to include luxury brands and technology firms, reflecting a shift toward innovation-focused alliances beyond traditional Swiss banking ties. Luxury watchmakers such as became prominent partners, sponsoring the 2010 defense and emphasizing synergies with technology. In parallel, tech firms like WISeKey, a cybersecurity company, emerged as key backers for the same campaign, providing funding for digital security solutions integrated into team operations. This evolution allowed Alinghi to sustain activities in non-Cup events while attracting global brands interested in high-performance branding. A pivotal development occurred in December 2021 when Alinghi formed a co-branded with , rebranding as Alinghi Red Bull Racing for the 37th challenge, leveraging the energy drink company's marketing expertise and extreme sports portfolio for enhanced visibility. This alliance built on prior competitive history in circuits like the GC32 Racing Tour and Extreme Sailing Series, where the teams had been rivals, fostering mutual respect and shared tactical insights. The provided marketing synergies through 's global platform, while incorporating expertise from Red Bull Advanced Technologies in and performance optimization. As of November 2025, following Alinghi Red Bull Racing's withdrawal from the 38th in April 2025 amid protocol disputes, though its final status remains uncertain amid ongoing negotiations, the team maintains ongoing sponsorship deals emphasizing sustainability and diversified activities. Partners like , a leader in energy cables, support initiatives in renewable wind energy infrastructure, aligning with Alinghi's focus on eco-friendly sailing technologies. Other enduring alliances include for financial backing and TUDOR watches as the main partner, with additional suppliers like Roca and On Running contributing to operational resilience during potential pauses in major Cup pursuits.

References

  1. https://www.yacht.de/en/america-s-cup/america-s-cup-20-years-ago-alinghi-brought-the-silver-jug-to-europe-for-the-first-time/
  2. https://www.sail-world.com/-35337/
  3. https://www.alinghi.com/about-the-team
  4. https://www.sail-world.com/news/285362/Americas-Cup-Alinghi-confirm-exit-and-wind-down
  5. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360882053/american-magic-skipper-says-americas-cup-exit-was-difficult-and-hints-return-after-naples
  6. https://www.tudorwatch.com/en/partnerships/alinghi-red-bull-racing-partnership
  7. https://www.forbes.com/profile/ernesto-bertarelli/
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