The Swiss Defender of the America's Cup, Alinghi, became the final Cup team to sail from Port America's Cup this year when they slipped out for a late afternoon shake-down of SUI 91 on Tuesday. They joined an assortment of the 11 challengers who have been engaged in training and practice racing for weeks now.
Alinghi had held a winter training camp and 'Defender Trials' in Dubai over the winter months, before returning to Valencia at the end of February. The goal on Tuesday was to check SUI91 was ready to go in order for the team to get in full training sessions later this week.
SUI100 has yet to slip in the water. The last boat built for the 32nd America's Cup is due to sail later this month - an event all of the challengers will be watching with great interest.
Meanwhile, team members, including Ernesto BERTARELLI (SUI) have been competing in the United States in the Farr 40 class. BERTARELLI's Alinghi team took fourth place in the Acura Miami Grand Prix in Florida last week. That result, combined with an earlier win at Key West, gave Alinghi the Farr 40 Grand Prix Championship title.