Alinghi, America's Cup & Louis Vuitton Cup

Alinghi takes 3-2 lead in 32nd America's Cup Match

Photo credit: Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

Photo credit: Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

Photo credit: Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

Photo credit: Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

Swiss Defender Alinghi won Match 5 of the 32nd America’s Cup by 19-seconds taking a 3-2 lead in the series against Challenger Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ), with the winner the first to five victories.

After a close first leg, with both boats racing out to the starboard side of the race course, Alinghi rounded 12 seconds astern of ETNZ and was gaining on the first run when the Kiwi’s spinnaker blew out. With the ETNZ crew struggling to change sails, Alinghi sailed past and into the lead, turning a 40-metre deficit into a 140-metre lead within two minutes to lead through the leeward gate by 26 seconds.

Back upwind for the second time, Alinghi fended off constant attacks from ETNZ to round 24 seconds ahead. Heading downwind for the finish, the Kiwis flew a symmetric spinnaker, as opposed to Alinghi’s asymmetric sail, and they gained 5 seconds, but Alinghi skipper and tactician Brad Butterworth had the crew firmly placed to ward off the advances.

Today’s race featured more close boat-for-boat sailing and yet another lead change. Of the five America’s Cup matches sailed only two have not had lead changes.