Sailing

Alinghi eliminated from the America’s Cup race

Alinghi Red Bull Racing was 1:10 minutes behind in the end ...(Bild: AFP)

Alinghi Red Bull Racing will not be the challenger to defending champion Team New Zealand in the 37th America's Cup. The Swiss syndicate, supported by Austria's Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher, was defeated by Ineos Britannia in the semi-finals of the elimination races by a score of 2:5.

In the first semi-final race on Wednesday, Alinghi was able to reduce the deficit to 2:4 against the favored British boat, but then the Britannia team made everything clear. It is now in the final of the challengers and will face either the Italians from Luna Rossa or the American boat American Magic (score 4:2).

With little wind but relatively high waves, Alinghi was much more competitive than in the first four regattas, when they had no chance against the British.

(Bild: AFP)

Sir Ben Ainslie made no mistakes
In the decisive seventh regatta, the British got off to the better start despite a penalty and were always just ahead of the Swiss. The star skipper and four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie did not make any mistakes. Alinghi, on the other hand, fell off the foils on the last tack and was then at a loss. The gap at the end was 1:10 minutes.