America's Cup: Down to the wire for Alinghi Red Bull Racing

A win for Alinghi Red Bull Racing today in their match against INEOS Britannia would have guaranteed their place in the Semi-Finals, but the Swiss Challenger will have to wait until tomorrow for a definite answer. With one match remaining in the Round Robin, the Swiss Challenger is still in the running. 

On Day 7 of the Louis Vuitton Cup, Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s first match was opposite INEOS Britannia. In a steady 14-knot breeze and big waves, both boats got off to a strong start, but it was the British who gained the upper hand on the first upwind leg. From there, both teams sailed cleanly in the rough conditions but the British extended their lead throughout the course to take the win. For the Swiss Challenger’s second match against Emirates Team New Zealand, again it was a close start but the Kiwis broke away in later legs to win the race. Tomorrow sees Alinghi Red Bull Racing face the Italian team for their final match of the Round Robin.

Nicolas Rolaz, Trimmer: “We've been improving our skills and our comms, but today the Brits hammered us pretty badly. They were fast, and we struggled a lot with our boat skills. We couldn't sail the boat 100%, so a bit of frustration there. We'll have to dig into the data to find out why. There are days where you feel the boat going less well, and today was one of those days.”

“Sail decisions are a big one for us on board. We have a chat with the coach and among us sailors, check the latest forecast, and then we make the decision as a team. The sails on our boat are like our engine – they’re what make us go fast – so it's always a tough decision. We have sails that we like more than others, and some are better suited to certain wind conditions. Once you pick the sail, you have to deal with it and make the most of it.”

Barnabé Delarze, Cyclor: “Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We’ll try to control what we can control, and for everything else, there's no point getting nervous about it. For our race, we just have to do our best and try to take it by the horns.”

Brad Butterworth, Board Member: “In the race with INEOS, we started in a strong position but couldn't get the boat in the groove that it’s supposed to be. These are mistakes we can’t keep making. I’m still optimistic, but I want to win a few more races. I want the guys to do what they do best. We just need to start well and sail the boat properly around the racecourse. If we can get ahead, try and force the other guy to make some mistakes, then we’ll be in the mix. The Semi-Final is waiting.”