Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Alinghi's last opportunity to measure up against the challengers

Winning and watching, just two of the goals for Louis Vuitton Act 12, and the man on the helm for the job, is Peter Holmberg in the tried and tested SUI75. This will be the last time the Defender will meet the challengers in a match race until the start of the first race of the America’s Cup Match in 2007.

Holmberg gives his take on the importance of LV Act 12: “It’s important because it’s one year away to the start of the America’s Cup, so the weather patterns are critical for us. Also it’s our last real chance to see our competitors. After this the challengers form a group and the Defender gets excluded from that. So it’s our last chance to measure the opponents themselves, their boats, their speeds. It’s an important week for us.” Team skipper and tactician, Brad Butterworth, is confident in the Alinghi crew rotation policy, vital to keep the in-house racing of the highest standard. He says: “Pete’s strength is match racing and he can sail the boat fast too, so you get the best of both worlds. The guys are hired for their skills in starting and he’s one of the best starters around.”

Peter Holmberg at the helm of Alinghi. Photo copyright: Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

With two America’s Cup campaigns behind him, numerous Congressional Cup wins and a Silver Olympic medal, among other wins, Holmberg lives up to his crew mates appraisals. Jochen Schuemann, sports director and fellow helmsman, comments on Holmberg’s match racing style: “He is very much structured for match racing tactics. He is aggressive, with a clear plan and comes with a clear approach to everything, which he is able to execute with good boys around him.”

Born and raised on the Caribbean island of St Thomas, Holmberg was sailing by five, now as one of three helmsman on the team, the other being Ed Baird, he takes nothing for granted: “We are placed well to win the Cup, not Defend it. The easiest way to lose something is by trying to hold onto it and the best way to keep something is to earn it back. So that is our goal and hopefully that mindset goes throughout the team. We've got a great group of people. I think our chances are excellent”.

What can fans expect of the America’s Cup Defender in this Act? “You are going to see our standard package. Our squad will go out there in rotation,” says Holmberg, adding: “We are still a year away. We have a different challenge to the other teams. We are the Defender, so all that matters for us is one year from now to be perfectly race ready, so our focus now is on boat development and little by little ticking away at the crew development. So, during this Act, we will rotate the crew, still going for a winning result of course, but trying to give everybody equal time to develop our whole team.”

Peter Holmberg at the helm of Alinghi. Photo copyright: Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

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