Monday, July 21, 2003
Bertarelli, Ellison to skipper respective boats
Associated Press
GENEVA -- Biotech baron Ernesto Bertarelli and software
tycoon Larry Ellison will skipper the boats they bankroll in a
regatta between America's Cup holder Alinghi and challenger Oracle
BMW Racing in September.
They will compete in a five-race "owner-driver'' series as part
of the Moet Cup, taking place in San Francisco Bay Sept. 15-20.
Bertarelli also will act as navigator to Alinghi skipper Russell
Coutts in a seven-race "pro-driver'' series, with the results of
both series being combined to determine the winner.
"It has long been a dream of many people in San Francisco to
have the America's Cup boats in the bay,'' Oracle helmsman Gavin
Brady said at a news conference in Geneva, Alinghi's base. "Being
Larry's home water, it is nice for him to bring the whole show
along to show the people of San Francisco what it's all about.''
It is the first time the boats will meet since Alinghi's 5-1
victory in the best-of-nine final of the Louis Vuitton Cup in
January for the right to compete for the America's Cup.
Alinghi will race SUI-64, the boat that beat defending champion
Team New Zealand last March to win the America's Cup in Auckland.
Oracle will use USA-76, the last boat to beat Alinghi during the
Louis Vuitton Cup.
Ellison, chairman of software maker Oracle, competed in the
early stages of the Louis Vuitton Cup while Bertarelli, founder of
biotech firm Serono, was navigator for Alinghi throughout the
America's Cup season.
The races will be between Treasure Island and the Golden Gate
Bridge, within viewing distance of Pier 39 and San Francisco's
Marina District.
The event is sponsored by champagne producer Moet & Chandon, and
the trophy is a huge silver champagne bottle.
Organizers hope the regatta will be the first of annual meetings
between America's Cup hopefuls in the run-up to Alinghi's defense
of the title in 2007 at a European location yet to be determined.
The Golden Gate Yacht Club, which hosts Oracle, was the first
club to announce its intention to compete against Alinghi in the
2007 event, and is formally the "challenger of record.''
