Jan Dekker, 39, well known French/South African bowman, joins Alinghi as foredeck crew.

Hestrengthens the sailing squad at a time when the emphasis will be switching from testing to more racing in preparation for next year’s America’s Cup Match.

He has a wealth of offshore racing experience having just stepped off the winning Volvo Ocean Racing yacht ABN Amro One to notch up his fourth round the world race.

With America’s Cup experience on the 1995 French challenger in San Diego, with Alinghi crew mates Yann Gouniot, Christian Karcher and Bernard Labro, he is no stranger to inshore racing either.

He will bring rigging know-how to the shore team, as Jochen Schuemann, sports director and helmsman, comments.

"We know he's very experienced having done various Volvos and trimaran campaigns in France, aside from other big boat programs, and have put him in the rig team, hoping that we can learn a bit about the technology of the VOR."

On the boat, Dekker will slot in to the ongoing crew rotation policy.

"“He will be part of the bow group as a sailor and as he settles in and we learn more about his competences and strengths", Jochen Schuemann added. "We might adjust it a little, but at the moment that's where he stands."

Dekker has been persistent in his approach to the Swiss team.

"In the 2001 round the world race, we stopped in Auckland and already then I wanted to join Alinghi, I wrote my CV and gave it to the team. Since then, once a year, I’ve told them that I’m still keen".

Dekker will start training this week with the sailing team as they continue with the two boat testing and training program out of the base in Valencia.