Bertarelli to navigate Swiss America’s Cup entry

Ernesto Bertarelli will take up the reins as the Alinghi Team's navigator Keystone Archive

Ernesto Bertarelli, CEO of the Serono biotech group and Switzerland's richest man, is preparing to steer the Swiss Alinghi team through the 2003 America's cup after becoming the crew's new navigator.

The 37-year-old Genevan, who along with Russell Coutts, founded the Swiss challenge to yachting’s most prestigious title, will take to the high seas as navigator during the six months of competition, although he will not take part in every regatta.

He hopes to gain the trophy in 14 months.

Coutts revealed the identity of his new navigator during an interview with swissinfo, saying that Bertarellis’ computer’s skills would stand him in good stead.

Baby babble

The Alinghi team, which got its name because it was one of the first words Bertarelli babbled as a child, is currently in New Zealand, where it is putting racing yacht prototypes through their paces.

At the moment there are two team Alinghi training yachts moored in Auckland, which crews take out each day for between six and seven hours. After every outing they learn something new about how the yachts react to racing conditions.

Based on these “road tests”, modifications can be made to the design to give the Alinghi team’s final two racing yachts a competitive edge. High-level racing yachts are similar to Formula 1 cars, in as far as a slight tweak in mast, rudder or hull design can shave all-important seconds off finishing times.

One of the final two racing yachts is moored in an Auckland port, where it has made a real impression on the locals and challengers alike. The Alinghi challengers proudly told swissinfo that it has caused quite a stir.

Vevey shipyard

The other racing yacht is being constructed in a Swiss shipyard in Vevey and is due to be completed by the end of July. The two yachts will then be put through another round of gruelling tests on the water, but their true value will not be known until the first regattas get underway.

Two yachts are needed because the America’s Cup lasts for more than half a year and takes place in all weather. One of the yachts is therefore built for light wind conditions and the other for stronger gusts.

Large team

The Auckland base is home to almost a hundred team members including sailing crew, the design team, yacht builders, and trainers, all of whom are pulling together to get their hands on sport’s oldest trophy.

The training programme is intense and every day the sailing crew goes through an hour and a half of exercises on top of their six-seven hours on the water.

Their trainer, Jean-Pierre Egger never ceases to be amazed by their stamina and morale. “They grew up on the sea,” he muses, “they are simply cut from a different cloth.”

As with all other sportsmen, injury is an occupational hazard, so Xavier Jolis is always on hand as the team’s physiotherapist. Jolis is no stranger to the high pressured racing world having been the Formula 1 World Champion’s Michael Schumacher’s personal physiotherapist in the past.

The sailing team is made up of 32 men from 14 different countries including eight Swiss, but only 16 will make it into the final racing crew. There they will take their place next to Bertarelli, who as navigator will be seeing his dream of racing in the America’s Cup come true.

by Walter Rüegsegger (translated by Sally Mules)