Alinghi unveils new catamaran
VILLENEUVE, Switzerland -- America's Cup champion Alinghi has unveiled the new catamaran it will use to prepare for the defense of its title against bitter rival BMW Oracle Racing of San Francisco.
The 90-foot vessel was lifted by helicopter Wednesday from a boatyard onto Lake Geneva and christened in a ceremony led by team president Ernesto Bertarelli. The boat was named Alinghi 5.
"As a passionate multihull sailor I am extremely excited to see Alinghi 5 launched and for the next stage of this campaign to begin," said Bertarelli. "Over the coming weeks and months the team will work toward defending the 33rd America's Cup next year. The team has done an excellent job to make this happen. We are all looking forward to going sailing now."
Earlier this week, BMW Oracle Racing relaunched its 90-foot trimaran after the carbon-fiber boat was modified in the last four months.
BMW Oracle Racing is scheduled to face two-time defending America's Cup champion Alinghi in a best-of-three series starting Feb. 8 for the oldest trophy in international sports. Alinghi must name the venue by Aug. 8.
In San Diego, BMW Oracle Racing's 90-foot trimaran was on the water for the first time since March 3. It sailed for five hours, in 8 to 10 knots of wind.
Helmsman James Spithill was pleased to be back out on the Pacific Ocean, considering the boat has been in the water only since Monday. This is BMW Oracle Racing's fourth testing session aboard the spage age-looking boat, which was launched late last summer in Anacores, Wash.
"It was pretty impressive to get a full day of testing in today, which is a huge credit to our design, shore and boat-building teams," Spithill said.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
