Something is happening in the Swiss match race scene: In 2005 the Alpine country wants to choose a Swiss champion again. The major Swiss bank UBS and the Alinghi team are sponsoring this and are organizing an attractive series of events.
The five match race events in Zurich, Thun, Lugano, Romanshorn and Geneva (dates see below) are spread over the whole year. Twelve teams will be allowed to start each local event and will have the opportunity to sail against an Alinghi team. The winners from the events automatically qualify for the grand finale in November in front of the Alinghi base in Valencia. There the winning team will be honored as the new Swiss champions in match racing.
The winners of the Zurich event (May 14-16) will also have the opportunity to take part in the international match race in St. Moritz (August 16-21) and there against the greats of the scene for prize money of 150,000 Francs (around 100,000 euros) to sail.
Once before, in 2002, Alinghi gave the match race a boost in Switzerland as part of a promotional tour. This year, however, the focus is less on the Alinghi team than on the young Swiss talents. The Swiss Tour should give them the chance to enter the world of match racing.
Streamline class boats are used for sailing. The three-man keelboat with double trapeze has already proven itself at various match race events. Alinghi sports director Jochen Schümann also confirms: "The streamlines are particularly well suited for Swiss conditions and guarantee good action even when there is little wind!" This spring, the five implementing clubs will each be provided with two brand new Streamline boats, on which the participants of the individual events can train by arrangement.
The events of the UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour: May 14-16 Zurich, Zurich Yacht ClubJune 18-19 Thun, Lake Thun Yacht Club03-04 September Lugano, Circolo Velico Lago di Lugano01-02 October Romanshorn, Yacht Club RomanshornOctober 15-16 Geneva, Société Nautique de GenèveNovember 10-13 Valencia / Spain, Alinghi bas
Information and announcement at: www.alinghi.com/swisstour