Alinghi Red Bull Racing Clinches Impressive Second Victory on Day 6 of Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robins

Alinghi Red Bull Racing Achieves Solid Second Win on Day 6 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robins

Alinghi Red Bull Racing powered through Day 6 of the Louis Vuitton Cup, securing a convincing victory against NYYC American Magic. The Swiss Challenger appears to have hit their stride during this second stage of the Round Robin.

Following a morale-boosting victory against the French team, the Swiss crew approached their match against NYYC American Magic with determination. A pre-start penalty for the American team provided an early advantage, which the Swiss turned into a substantial lead through exceptional match racing, precise maneuvers, and smart wind shift analysis. The Swiss team’s prowess in staying on the foils proved crucial, as the American boat struggled midway through the race. By the finish line, Alinghi Red Bull Racing boasted a comfortable 40-second margin, earning their second point of the competition. With back-to-back wins under their belt, the Swiss Challenger is focused on maintaining the winning momentum during the weekend, featuring two matches on Saturday against INEOS Britannia and Emirates Team New Zealand.

View today’s race results and current standings

Maxime Bachelin, Helmsman: “Today we really had to play against the Americans in the early legs, as we were quite close right after the start. There were many tacks, demanding a lot from the Power Group. They kept encouraging us, saying, ‘Go for it, guys, keep tacking, we’re good.’ In the end, when we felt secure with enough distance, we played it safe—no crazy maneuvers or excessive tacks. Winning by just 10 meters is sufficient.”

Nils Theuninck, Cyclor: “Crossing the finish line was physically exhausting for the Power Group. It was a challenging race, but everyone put in a great effort. If additional tacks had been necessary, we would have pushed harder. We weren’t going to lose due to a lack of power—that wasn’t an option—so we did our best, and luckily it was enough. There’s now a sense of relief in the team, easing some of the pressure, and a lot of satisfaction from clinching two wins in a row.”

Rodney Ardern, Sailing Team Manager: “Just after we cut the tow, the boat fell off the foils before the start, which was a bit nerve-wracking. However, the crew recovered well and executed a great pre-start. We gained a slight advantage when American Magic entered slightly early, which is a typical pressure situation at the start. It was a fair mistake that gave us some breathing room. All credit goes to the team, as they extended their lead on most legs.”

“We’ve been learning and adapting throughout the competition, focusing on one race at a time. These victories boost the team’s confidence in themselves and in the boat. There’s still plenty of racing ahead, but the trend is certainly upward.”