Alinghi defends Cup in thrilling fashion

ALINGHI won the America’s Cup to become the first European team to defend sailing’s most prestigious prize.

The Swiss syndicate beat Team New Zealand in a nail-biting seventh race to seal the best-of-nine series 5-2.

Alinghi finished two seconds ahead of the Kiwis after SUI 100’s sail fell off and left them at a standstill.

NZL 92 took advantage but had to perform a penalty turn before the finish after encroaching on Alinghi’s run-up for the third mark.

The Kiwis performed the double-tack manoeuvre impeccably but by the time they had finished, Alinghi had regained enough speed to just edge their bow ahead for a thrilling win.

Yesterday’s race was a heart-stopping end to the best-of-nine series with the boats hardly more than a boat length apart for most of the race.

The crew, the designers and the shore team have done an incredible job throughout the series, said Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth.

The turning point came at the top of the second upwind leg when Team New Zealand got enough advantage to ‘dial down’, turning downwind and attacking Alinghi nose on.

Alinghi had to swerve to miss them and the umpires slapped New Zealand with a penalty.

Coming back downwind, Alinghi had more problems with their gybes and suddenly the pole that holds out the bottom corner of the spinnaker jumped off the mast, the kite went flying off and the 24-metre yacht came to a halt.

New Zealand swept past the stalled Swiss boat and did a double tack to pay their penalty.

Alinghi finally got a jib up and started chasing for the finish line, caught up with the Kiwis and just got ahead.

“This is a fantastic day for Alinghi, to win the America’s Cup again after four years of hard work,” said the Alinghi skipper.

“It was obviously pretty close but all credit to Alinghi. They sailed well, kept it close, kept on sailing the way they do and beat us fair and square,” said New Zealand’s Grant Dalton.

Alinghi join Team Dennis Conner and Team New Zealand as the only crews in Cup history to win as a Challenger and Defender.

Alinghi, who brought the Cup to Europe for the first time since its inception in 1851, now have the right to organise the next event where, when and how they want.