Alinghi is a coined name of the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup. Alinghi successfully challenged for and won the 2003 America's Cup in Auckland New Zealand and successfully defended at the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, Spain.

For the 2003 event Team New Zealand as the holder of the America's Cup, in consultation with Prada the Challenger of Record, removed the nationality rule which stipulated that all the crew members must be nationals of the challenging syndicate.

Alinghi took full advantage of this rule change and hired many of the world's top America's Cup sailors particularly from New Zealand. New Zealanders saw the defection of key members of Team New Zealand to Alinghi as an act of disloyalty to their home country which was understandable against a background of strong nationwide public support for Team New Zealand which they saw as representing their country rather than just representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

After a series of discussions with Team New Zealand it has been announced that they will compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in 2009.

2003 challenge

see: 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup

Apart from New Zealand, the Alinghi' team consisted of members from Germany, the United States, Canada, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Portugal, Turkey, Ireland, the UK (from Scotland and Wales), Belgium, South Africa, Australia, Uruguay, Argentina, Denmark, Ecuador and Switzerland.

The Alinghi boats for the 2003 challenge, SUI-64 (the race boat) and the SUI-75, were developed by the Alinghi team in close collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne specifically for the race. Alinghi also had a test yacht from the 2000 America's cup, SUI-59 (formerly called Fast 2000).

Alinghi raced to a 5-0 victory against Team New Zealand on the 2 March 2003, winning the America's Cup.

They guaranteed themselves a further stake in the history books by being the first team since the inaugural race in 1851 to return the Auld Mug to Europe and for being the first team to win the Cup on a first attempt.

Alinghi's vision was "to win the America's Cup, while earning respect and recognition as a world class sports team as well as sharing our passion". Ernesto Bertarelli is the President of Alinghi, as well as part of the sailing team.

32nd America's Cup 2007

As holders of the America's Cup following their win in 2003, Alinghi held the responsibility and benefits of defining the rules and structure for the next event. Bertarelli formed a private company called America's Cup Management to oversee the organisation of the next America's Cup including date, location, media rights, boat design, entry fees and all the key details required to conduct the America's Cup. Much of this work was done in consultation with the Challenger of Record -- the Golden Gate Yacht Club and its representative BMW Oracle Racing.