Alinghi Red Bull Racing ready to step it up
by Alinghi Red Bull Racing 12 Sep 16:43 BST
Maxime Bachelin speaks with Nicolas Rolaz and Thery Schir at dock out prior to racing on Day 3, Louis Vuitton Cup © Oriol Castello Arroyo
Since Alinghi Red Bull Racing qualified for the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals on Monday, the Swiss team has been using the short break between stages to make crucial adjustments. The focus remains the same: deliver the performance required to move forward in the competition.
On Monday, Alinghi Red Bull Racing progressed to the Semi-Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The Swiss Challenger has had a few days to reflect on its first-round performance ahead of racing on Saturday. While there were highs and lows in the opening weeks of racing, the team showed steady and concrete improvements throughout the stage. "We were a bit on the back foot during the first Round Robin, but we managed to come back, and we never stopped believing that we could make it," said Skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis, who is confident the team is on an upward trajectory. "Everyone stayed focused and pushed, and we made the cut."
During this week's pause in racing, the Swiss team has been using the time to analyse performance data, adjust their setup, and plan their strategy for the next stage. Dependability of equipment is a crucial factor in the high-tech world of the AC75, and the reliability of BoatOne has lived up to expectations so far. Between stages, teams are permitted to make certain modifications to their boats to achieve performance gains. "We're making some tweaks to the boat that you'll see the next time it comes out of the shed," said Psarofaghis. "Every little detail can be worked on, both above and below the water, and even inside the boat."
As the top-ranked team from the previous stage, tomorrow Ineos Britannia will select their Semi-Final opponent ahead of racing on Saturday. Psarofaghis says Alinghi Red Bull Racing will be ready for any outcome. "For us it doesn't really matter. The goal will be to go out there, keep improving, and win every race to make it to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final."
The Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals are set to start on Saturday 14th September at 14:00 CET, with two races scheduled for each duo.
Silvio Arrivabene, Co-General Manager:
"The Semi-Final is a different format, with the first to win five races, so we'll be facing the same team for several days. The advantage is that you get to test yourself against that team over multiple races. No matter who we face - whether it's the British, Italians, or Americans - we'll be ready. We're focusing on our own performance."
Arnaud Psarofaghis, Skipper:
"Since qualifying, we've been feeling good because now we can start the real work. It's always good to go through one stage, but the next is going to be tougher. We have a good idea of what we want to improve on the boat, as well as the way we want to sail it. This week we've had an opportunity to implement things we couldn't during the two Round Robins."
Maxime Bachelin, Helmsman:
"Looking back at the Round Robin, we saw where we can improve, mostly on boat speed. We've been performing a bit less well than during training, so we're focused on getting that speed back up to be competitive against our next opponent."
Hans-Peter Steinacher, Board Member:
"As the oldest sports trophy in the world, dating back to 1851, there's a lot of tradition around the America's Cup. It's not just a sporting event, but also a design competition. Right now we may be the underdogs, which gives us a chance to approach the game aggressively and potentially surprise our opponents. We had a tough Round Robin, but we pushed hard and got through it. Now we've used the past 3 days to analyse all the data and bring the AC75 up to speed."