America's Cup 2010:
Race 1 Alinghi Press Release
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Race 1 Crew List Valencia, February 12, 2010 |
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Crew List Bow 1: Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen (NED) Did you know? As a team Alinghi counts more than 130 members representing 20 nationalities in seven different departments (sailing, design, shore, weather, media, marketing, administration). The race area covers 450 square miles, or 1165 square kilometres. It took 100,000 man hours to construct Alinghi 5. The 1100sqm Code 0 gennaker is one of the three largest in the world. The mast is 17 storeys tall and there are 534m of carbon-fibre standing rigging (shrouds, forestays and backstays). On this day in America's Cup history 1970 – Challenger Gretel II is launched in Sydney, Australia, to be the representative of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, the third and last challenge of Australian media magnate Sir Frank Packer. Gretel II introduced several innovations including dual wheels to give the helmsman a better view and to have his weight better positioned to windward, as well as collapsible spreaders to enable the genoa to be sheeted closer to the mast, enhancing her ability to sail to windward. Gretel II was the first challenger to be selected in a Challenger Selection Series defeating Baron Bich's France to proceed to the match. Gretel II, named after Packer's wife (as well as his first challenger Gretel in 1962) was defeated by Intrepid 4-0. It was Intrepid's second America's Cup win, becoming only the second yacht to do so in the history of the Cup. Gretel II was restored in 2009 in New Zealand and is now racing once again on Sydney Harbour. 2009 – Alinghi defeats BMW Oracle Racing in the Challenger Final of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, 2-0, the last time Alinghi and BMW Oracle met in a match race before the 33rd America's Cup.
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