Bertarelli’s band of brothers: a look inside Alinghi

Fourteen years ago a group of sailors from landlocked Switzerland did something extraordinary – they won the America's Cup.

Saturday 22nd July 2017

Fourteen years ago a group of sailors from landlocked Switzerland did something extraordinary – they won the America’s Cup.

A few years earlier Swiss pharmaceutical entrepreneur and passionate sailor Ernesto Bertarelli had assembled the best team he could for a tilt at sailing’s most coveted prize.

He called the team Alinghi, a name that was to become part of sailing legend.

Initially few thought they could take on the might of more established teams from New Zealand and the USA but against all odds they did the unthinkable, winning the America’s Cup.

Incredibly, to this day they remain the only team ever to have won the America’s Cup at their first attempt, the first country to bring it back to Europe since it began in 1851 and one of only four nations to have lifted the trophy.

Buoyed by the victory, Bertarelli’s already tight-knit outfit became even closer as they prepared to defend their title in 2007.

In the most dramatic circumstances, Alinghi defeated Team New Zealand by just one second on the 7th race of the Match to claim victory and guarantee the America’s Cup stayed in Switzerland.

The triumph is one of sailing’s most enduring tales of success – but Alinghi’s story does not end there.

Bertarelli changed tack, deciding to enter the 2008 Extreme Sailing Series. It proved a wise decision as Alinghi blasted to victory in their debut season.

There began the team’s history with the Extreme Sailing Series, one that has seen them compete in seven seasons of the global Stadium Racing tour, winning three of them.

It’s a record that has only been matched by one other team – The Wave, Muscat – making Alinghi the joint most successful team the Extreme Sailing Series has ever seen.

Without doubt one of the slickest, best-drilled outfits in professional sailing today, Alinghi have proved themselves a force to be reckoned with whether in the Extreme Sailing Series or racing D35 catamarans on Lake Geneva.

Their secret to success? The team’s unmatchable dynamic.

“When Ernesto decided to challenge for the 2003 America’s Cup he had a very strong vision of how the team should work,” said long-serving Alinghi trimmer Nils Frei.

“It was an amazing campaign that saw 17 nationalities come together in one team with a very strong ethic of respect and trust.

“That ethic is one of the main strengths of Alinghi today. We know we have to reinvent ourselves and keep innovating, keep trying new things and keep pushing forward.”

Part of that innovation saw Bertarelli enlist the likes of 28-year-old Swiss sailor Arnaud Psarofaghis and 21-year-old Frenchman Timothé Lapauw, two of the sport’s most talented youngsters.

With seasoned athletes like Frei, Yves Detrey and Nicolas Charbonnier also in the line-up, Alinghi have proved a formidable mix of youth and experience can be devastatingly successful.

“We have a wonderful group of people in the team,” said team manager Pierre-Yves Jorand, who has been with Alinghi since its inception.

“There’s a real mix of generations, with older sailors and young guys too. It works very well. In our morning meeting there is a very cool atmosphere with everyone sharing ideas.”

A sensational victory in the 2016 Series, snatching the win from Oman Air in the last race of the finale in Sydney, saw them begin 2017 as the favourites.

But they are under no illusions that this season will be a breeze – this year’s competition includes America’s Cup sailor Adam Minoprio at the helm of SAP Extreme Sailing Team, reigning match racing world champion Phil Robertson with Oman Air and young Kiwi sensations NZ Extreme Sailing Team to name but a few.

“Yes, we won last year in a dramatic final in Sydney, but this year there are even more strong teams to contend with,” Jorand added.

“We anticipate very strong opposition throughout the year - for sure the event will be determined by the very last race of the last event.

“We are having fun spending time travelling together and sailing, but obviously our ultimate goal is to win.”

That drive for victory is something that runs throughout the team, uniting them as they go into battle against some of the world’s best sailors.

“My personal goal is one I take on day by day – and that’s winning,” said Detrey, who joined Alinghi in in 2004. “I want to go out there and win each race, win the day and win the event.”