This is the crucial moment for Alinghi Red Bull Racing
by Alinghi Red Bull Racing 15 Sep 10:14 PDT
15 September 2024
Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s BoatOne faces off against INEOS Britannia before the start on Day 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi Finals in Barcelona, Spain – 15th September 2024 © Alinghi Red Bull Racing / Samo Vidic
Alinghi Red Bull Racing is struggling to find its rhythm in the Semi-Finals against INEOS Britannia. The Swiss team is exerting every effort, both on and off the water, but it may not suffice against the British, who have displayed remarkable progress since the competition commenced.
On Day 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals, Alinghi Red Bull Racing still had much to demonstrate on the racecourse. In the first race, a poor start hindered the Swiss team’s hopes before they even crossed the line. During the second match, the Swiss crew presented a steadier performance, although they lost ground as the British sailed swiftly and smoothly, securing their fourth point. With five points remaining, the Swiss team must find a way to outperform the British tomorrow. The crew has previously shown their ability to reset each day, which is exactly what is needed at this level of competition.
Arnaud Psarofaghis, Skipper: “Honestly, the British have appeared nearly unstoppable recently, so we must discover the key to defeating them. We understand that we won’t reinvent the wheel tomorrow. We just need to work with what we have, take pride in our efforts, and fight until the end.”
Franco Noti, Cyclor: “Conditions today were ideal, but no reason to celebrate with champagne. Clearly, this is a significant disappointment, and the sailing team is the hardest on themselves. We hope to build some momentum and somehow turn our fortunes around.”
Brad Butterworth, Board Member: “We lost another two races. One was quite dramatic, and the second marginally better, but still lacking. The sailors practiced extensively to avoid these errors. So, when they occur, it’s disappointing for everyone. Competing against Ben Ainslie is tough—he’s an exceptionally skilled match racer, and it’s challenging for the sailors to condense 20 years of experience into a short timeframe. It’s difficult to start at 4-0 down. It would be great to see this team take a win tomorrow.”
