Brits set to buy SUI 75

Alinghi sell training boat to Team Origin

Team Origin, Britain’s bid to enter the 33rd America’s Cup, today announced its intention to purchase its first America’s Cup Class training boat – SUI 75 – the training and testing boat used by Alinghi, the current Defenders of the Cup, during the pre-regatta Acts in 2005-2006.

SUI 75 was built by Alinghi at the Decision Boatyard in Vevey, Switzerland. It left Switzerland on 6th March 2002 and was launched in New Zealand. SUI 75 was used in New Zealand during the 31st America’s Cup for testing and racing and was developed alongside SUI 64. Alinghi used SUI 64 in the AC Match where it won the 31st America’s Cup but there was little perceived performance difference between the two boats. Alinghi raced SUI 75 during the 2005 and 2006 Acts in the build-up period of the 32nd America’s Cup.

Mike Sanderson, Team Director of Team Origin, commented, “This is a really important step for Team Origin, buying our first training boat of the calibre of SUI 75 means we are tapping into one of the fastest training boats around. We are also able to get hold of it without delay meaning that we can push forward our planning and be on the water here in Valencia as early as July 2007. We are continuing our progress in buying a second top quality training boat and other necessary assets to progress team preparations.”

The team plans to re-brand SUI 75 and it will later become GBR 75. It will be re-assembled and commissioned in Valencia and undergo a short test sail shortly after the end of the 32nd America’s Cup in July 2007.