america's cup sailing / Swiss Alinghi to unveil giant catamaran for cup defense

Swiss Alinghi to unveil giant catamaran for cup defense Bernie Wilson, Associated Press Sunday, July 5, 2009 The worst-kept secret in the America's Cup is official: Alinghi of Switzerland will sail a giant catamaran when it defends the oldest trophy in international sports early next year against bitter U.S. rival BMW Oracle Racing. The Swiss confirmed Saturday they will sail a twin-hulled boat that is 90 feet long on the waterline. The cat reportedly has a bowsprit that makes it about 120 feet overall. The high-tech craft was built in Villeneuve, Switzerland, and will be launched by helicopter on Lake Geneva this week before undergoing testing. Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing of the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco are scheduled to meet in a best-of-three series in February in massive multihulls. The rare one-on-one... [read full story]                    

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