Alinghi Red Bull Racing Secures First Point on Day 5 of the Louis Vuitton Cup
Alinghi Red Bull Racing had no room for mistakes on Day 5 of the Louis Vuitton Cup, both on the leaderboard and on the racetrack.
In unstable conditions, the Swiss crew kept their nerve in their match against the French team, battling hard to win their first point in this stage and remaining competitive for the coming races. Stormy weather and a challenging racecourse greeted both teams as they faced off for the second time this round. Seconds before the start, Swiss supporters held their breath as BoatOne came off its foils, but a quick recovery allowed them to beat the French team across the line. A misstep by the French on the first leg left them struggling to regain flight, giving the Swiss a significant lead by the top mark. For the remainder of the race, Alinghi Red Bull Racing maintained their concentration in shifty conditions, finishing a kilometer ahead. This key victory puts Alinghi Red Bull Racing back in the game as they aim for the Semi-Finals.
Due to the unstable conditions, there may be potential changes to the match schedule, so fans should stay tuned for updates on tomorrow’s racing.
Arnaud Psarofaghis, Skipper, emphasized the importance of maintaining focus: “From the beginning, we really focused on our own race because the conditions were so tricky. You can easily end up in a bad spot with no breeze compared to the other boat. You never know what can happen, so you need to stay focused until the end. When you’re at the bottom, you can only go up. Right now we’re going in the right direction. Tomorrow we’ll go out there with the same energy that we had this morning, go for every point, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the week.”
Franco Noti, Cyclor, reflected on the challenges of the day: “It wasn’t an easy day to get the win today. The conditions were really unstable, and we didn’t know what to expect. We’ve been waiting a long time for this victory, and we’re finally here, so I’m very, very happy. The Driving Group delivered under high pressure, and I’m proud of all of them. The plan is to keep building up from here. We’re still standing, we’re still in the game, but we haven’t won anything yet, so we must deliver in the next days.”
Pietro Sibello, Head Coach, noted the significance of their recent performance: “We were looking for something to change the momentum, and we think the solid performance against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on Sunday was exactly that. Now we’ve got a win, we’re a bit relieved, but tomorrow we have another important day—two races in which we need to keep winning. Today it looked like we are on the way up, and tomorrow will be a crucial day to confirm it.”
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Ava Thompson, a skilled sailor and marine journalist from Auckland, has developed a deep connection to the ocean that guides her work. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Auckland, Ava is known for her engaging and detailed storytelling. Her writing brings to life the thrill of sailing and the unique maritime culture of New Zealand, earning her recognition in the sailing community. Outside of her journalism, Ava enjoys exploring the rugged coastlines of New Zealand and competing in local regattas, always in search of her next seafaring adventure.