America's Cup 2010 - the competitors

Swiss entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli, former owner of biotech giant Serono and an integral part of the sailing crew, created Alinghi in 2000 to participate in the America's Cup. In the spring of the same year, BMW ORACLE racing was brought together by the CEO and founder of ORACLE Corporation Larry Ellison. Ellison has a long and distinguished sailing career inshore and offshore and has been a regular member of the sailing crew over the years of America’s Cup racing.

Alinghi's experienced team
As two times winners of the America’s Cup, Alinghi had a very strong foundation of sailors with many America’s Cup wins to their credit. Lead by skipper/tactician Brad Butterworth who won the America’s Cup in 1995, 2000, 2003 and 2007, the Alinghi crew was a mix of successful America’s Cup sailors as well as excellent multihull racers. Helmsman was Ernesto Bertarelli, whilst navigator Juan Vila had not only won the America’s Cup twice but had also won the Volvo Round the World Race on 2001-2. Forged as a tight core unit since winning the America’s Cup with Team New Zealand, Butterworth, Murray Jones, Warwick Fleury and Dean Phipps won the Match Racing world title several times. Complete allrounders like bowman Jan Dekker brought Alinghi the combined experience of America’s Cup sailing, winning the America’s Cup in 2007 with Alinghi, but also the 2005-6 Volvo Ocean Race with ABN AMRO and he also had maxi catamaran experience racing round the world with Club Med and winning the 60ft Multihull Circuit with Groupama.

BMW ORACLE Racing
Challengers BMW ORACLE Racing Team drew their sailing crew from a wide variety of backgrounds. Skipper Russell Coutts had won the America’s Cup three times, twice with Team New Zealand and as skipper of Alinghi in 2003. An Olympic gold medallist in his own right, Coutts so far remains undefeated as an America’s Cup skipper. He is a qualified engineer and has a great technical background and experience. Tactician John Kostecki won the Volvo Ocean Race as the skipper of Illbruck, has long experience in match racing, is in his fifth America’s Cup campaign and is an Olympic silver medallist. Helmsman James Spithill was the youngest America’s Cup helm in 2000, going on to win the Match Racing world championship in 2005 then serving with Luna Rossa as a helmsman in 2007.

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