Introducing
the new TeamAlinghi
(11/12/03) (source
: Alinghi)
Alinghi invites the media to a double press conference
to present its new partners for the XXXII Americas
Cup, and to tell everything about the new team and
program. Team Alinghi’s new helmsman will be introduced
on this occasion.
It is highly speculated that former Oracle Racing's
Afterguard member Peter Holmberg will be this new
helmsman.
In the presence of Russell Coutts (the new ISAF world
sailor of the year), Jochen Schuemann and this "surprise
guest", the double press conference will take
place Monday, 24 November, starting at 9 :30 AM in
Zurich (Lake Side Casino Zürichhorn) and at 4:00 PM
in Geneva (Hotel du Rhône).
-Alinghi's
main partner UBS awarded (11/09/03) (source : Alinghi)
UBS, one of the principal partner of Team Alinghi
for the America's Cup 2003, has received an award
from the Swiss Association of Marketing (www.gfm.ch).
This prestigious award marks "the exemplary success
of the marketing strategy of UBS", and celebrates
its association with Team Alinghi. As explained on
the company's internet site, the partnership between
UBS and Alinghi was a vision born well before Alinghi
become famous.
Executed worldwide, UBS' campaign, the "Power of Partnership"
was seen by millions of people. Through its support
of other sailing events (such as the Volvo Ocean race
and the Louis Vuitton Cup), UBS has established a
solid reputation, crowned by Alinghi's victory in
the America's Cup 2003.
Peter
Homberg home, considering options (11/03/03) (source
: Caribbeanracing.com)
While the rumour mill runs rife, Virgin Islander
Peter Holmberg has come back home – for the time being
- and is considering his future after his campaign
with Larry Ellison and the Oracle BMW challenge for
the America’s Cup.
With the next America’s Cup four years away, Peter
wants to take some time off and do other things before
re-joining the America’s Cup fray. He’s given himself
two years to get his life back.
He has some interesting projects lined up. He’ll be
calling the shots as tactician on Tom Hill’s Reichel/Pugh-designed
75-footer Titan this coming race season, pick and
choose Farr 40 and big boat slots in Europe, and Olympic
coaching. He’ll be helping Bermuda’s Peter Bromby
and his Star campaign.
While he’s looking at his America’s Cup choices, he’s
in no rush and after his last experience and to wants
to weigh his options.
"I don’t need the Cup", he said. "If
it comes, the perfect deal, I’ll take it but I’m able
to make a living professional sailing and live in
the VI. That’s just about as close to an ideal life
as I can imagine. I think it’s the right mind set
for looking at the Cup."
With rumours flying that he’s joining Alinghi and
no official comment from either party, reading between
the lines it seems that Peter is close to signing
a deal with someone. Knowing that the key teams are
quietly assembling now, he’s aware that if he leaves
it too late he may have missed the boat.
"$60
million to be competitive" Coutts said (10/27/03) (source
: Eurosport)
The next America's Cup be a much bigger deal
believes defending syndicate skipper Russell Coutts
as "companies are starting to realise that it will
be a completely different event and a new opportunity
in Europe."
He expects more interest from sponsors, but money
alone doesn't win the America's Cup.
"It is interesting to note that Alinghi had only the
fourth largest budget [last time]", Coutts said.
"You can go back to 1987 or even further, and
all of the time, the team that spends the most does
not win".
"I think while you need a certain amount to get the
campaign rolling, it is not all about money, a lot
of it comes down to how you use your resource within
the time frame. I think next time you probably need
60 million dollars to be competitive."
Leaders of the three top syndicates from this
year's America's Cup were put on the spot at Wednesday's
press conference at the King Edward VII Gold Cup.
Russell Coutts was asked about recent rumors that
US Virgin Islander Peter Holmberg was about to join
Alinghi's 2007 defense. Coutts dodged the inquiry.
"It's an understatement that there's a lot of rumors
going on around the America's Cup," said Coutts. "I
can say we will be looking to hire some new people,
probably twenty percent of our design team and thirty
percent of our sailing team. When we're ready to make
an announcement, we'll let you know."
Holmberg, meanwhile, would "neither confirm, nor deny"
any discussions about him joining the Swiss team.
Alinghi has received yet another boost to its
afterguard with the addition of Peter Holmberg to
the sailing crew for the 2007 America's Cup.
Born in the US Virgin Islands, Peter Holmberg is
a highly regarded international sailor in both match
racing and America's Cup arenas.
After winning the Silver Medal in the Finn Class
at the 1988 Olympics, Peter has won two World Championships
and numerous international events. He entered the
Match Racing circuit in 1992, climbed to #3 in the
world in 1999, and continues to focus on this form
of racing. He won the third Swedish Match Tour (2001/2002).
Peter raced in the afterguard of Stars & Stripes
in the America's Cup 2000 Challenger Series where
they finished third. Oracle's helmsman during the
America's Cup 2003, he had been removed after the
second race of round two by chairman Larry Ellison
who was disappointed by his team's performances.
Less than a week after the Moët Cup in
San Francisco, SUI 64 was packed off on a truck
for a 6000 km journey towards Newport, Rhode Island.
In fact, the Swiss sent a convoy of 10 trucks with
the boat, its masts and several containers (with
appendages, sails, rig, hydraulic gear, etc...).
Ten days were necessary for the convoy to reach
the Atlantic.
Swiss Defi yacht Alinghi, winner of the 2003 America's
Cup, will spent the winter in a boat shed in Newport.
Ernesti Bertarelli said
in the New Zealand's newspaper Sunday Star Times
he will not be funding Alinghi’s America’s Cup defence.
He believes Alinghi will be able to find corporate
sponsorship to fully fund its defence. He will, however,
underwrite the defence. For the 2003 challenge Bertarelli
provided 50% of the funding.
Brad Butterworth and Grant Simmer said they were confident
Alinghi could find close to 100% corporate sponsorship.
Russell Coutts has started looking for sponsorship
and was in Germany last week.
