Swiss challengers Alinghi became the first European team to win the America's Cup when they beat holders Team New Zealand by 45 seconds in the fifth race on Sunday to claim the series 5-0. Alinghi led from start to finish in the six-leg, 18.5 nautical mile course in the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland, New Zealand, a fitting way to end a regatta they completely dominated.
The jubilant crew, led by syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli and former New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth, hugged and sprayed champagne after they crossed the finish line. "I'm incredibly proud of what we achieved with Alinghi," Coutts said.
Bertarelli danced with joy as he stood at the stern of his graphite grey and red boat, which flew a huge banner depicting the America's Cup atop the Matterhorn and the words "We did it" as they were towed back to base. The crew also hoisted a broom to indicate their clean sweep of the series, in which they also became the first team to win the Cup on their first attempt.
Italian-born biotechnology billionaire Bertarelli's success came after some of Europe's richest men, from Sir Thomas Lipton to Baron Bich and fashion mogul Patrizio Bertelli, had tried and failed over the past 152 years.
The loss ended a disastrous defence for New Zealand, whose boat was clearly inferior. Their hapless campaign ended in near farce when the boat's spinnaker fouled on the fourth leg and the spinnaker pole snapped. The boat's dejected crew threw the shattered carbon fibre pole over the side and replaced it with a spare. New Zealand had made small gains over the first three legs, but whatever hope they had floated away with the broken pole. "What can you say, they've been phenomenal. They sailed an incredibly good regatta, totally dominant throughout," Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker said.
Filed by James Boylan.
