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Louis Vuitton Challenge 2002
America's Cup 2003
In May 2002, as part of a ICT security consultancy initiated by Signet
Group International, tekniche worked with Team Alinghi at their base in Auckland.
Contact continued with the Alinghi base throughout 2002. This included the Louis Vuitton Cup
and through to Team Alinghi's successful challenge for the America's Cup in 2003.
The actual work is covered by a non-disclosure agreement. However, imagine a
multinational America's Cup Swiss team, where other US challenger
syndicates had sponsors or co-sponsors like Oracle, Microsoft and other software
giants. It was a prudent step to seek additional ICT security advice.
It was clear that Team Alinghi was the one to beat, even in those early days.
There was a nice blend of enthusiasm and experience, mixed across nationalities, throughout the team. It probably didn't hurt to have Russell
Coutts, Brad Butterworth and Murray Jones (ex-Team New Zealand 2000) at the blunt end, and Jochen Schuemann
and Ernesto Bertarelli down there too.
The Team Alinghi website is a useful source of information on America's Cup
history, the 2002-3 crew
and current developments on the arrangements for the 32nd America's Cup in 2007.
There was an immediate connection between Ernesto Bertarelli's day job as CEO
of the major European biotech group Serono, and tekniche's interests in
promoting Knowledge Nation in Australia. Unfortunately there was no time to
explore that connection. Perhaps if there is an Alinghi in development for a
future Sydney to Hobart yacht race we'll have a chance to look into the matter.
A personal photo gallery follows, taken around Viaduct Harbour, on a visit to Auckland from
21-23 February 2003, on what should have been the last weekend of sailing.
Unfortunately, with Alinghi 3-0, on 18 February, there was either no wind, or
too much wind, for 10 days. The series was finally settled 5-0, on 2 March 2003,
with Team Alinghi taking the America's Cup to Europe for the first time.
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