America's Cup: Comeback after 13 years - the Swiss show off their headquarters
Tatjana Pokorny
· 15.09.2023
Simple and straightforward, very functional, tasteful and spacious in the guest area, with a touch of humour - that's a good way to describe the headquarters of Alinghi Red Bull Racing in the Moll d'Espanya, not far from the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona.
A former multiplex cinema is the new home port
Here, the Swiss have chosen a former multiplex cinema as their headquarters in the America's Cup, redesigned and converted it. They moved in at the end of July. Now, for the first time, they have given some observers a closer look at their new home harbour in the maritime heart of the Cup metropolis.
Anyone who has made it through the main entrance to the steel staircase will see a sign: "Welcome to the first and only Base visit for media! Please take the stairs behind you." Two rather steep stairs later, you are cheered up: "Almost at the second floor!". Almost there. Once at the top, the visitors are finally enlightened by a shiny photo of the coveted silver jug and the oldest message in the America's Cup world: "There is no second! But we are very happy to welcome you here!"
Next door, the J-Class yachts will moor for their 2024 World Championships
Behind it is the Alinghi Red Bull Racing lounge - a huge, purist space separated only by light-flooded glass windows in front of the terrace. Outside, there is a view of the harbour, where the beauties of the J-Class will also be moored a little above the base camp in 2024 to compete in the America's Cup World Championship off Barcelona.
The welcome in the guest area is warm - after an absence of 13 years, the Swiss have returned to the Cup family with a new-found desire and hunger for success. The lounge offers a man-high screen with a spacious seating area, high bar tables and chairs. The centrepiece is a modern, long bar, curved at the end and of course fully equipped.
One-off opening for fans on 21 September
Right behind it is a sailing simulator that allows even non-sailors to quickly get a feel for how a cup foiler handles. The simulator is flanked by two team members who explain the operation to the curious in no time at all.
Fans will be able to experience all of this on 21 September. On this day, Alinghi Red Bull Racing will open its headquarters to the public for the first time. Shortly before the Mercé weekend, the Swiss will welcome their fans with various activities to take part in and many team members. Anyone who happens to be in Barcelona at the time will have a good chance to get to know the camp for themselves.
The fitness centre leaves nothing to be desired
The tour of the "hallowed halls" begins with a glimpse of the almost aseptic-looking canteen, where the 100 or so team members from all departments are fed according to their working hours. You could be envious, because the food served is of the highest quality. The meals are created by Michelin-starred chef Romain Fornell in collaboration with the nutrition experts at Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
Just behind the canteen - a nasty coincidence? - is the 400 square metre fitness studio for the active members of Team Alinghi Red Bull Racing. One wall is stacked metres high with flashing dumbbells of all sizes. This is where the grinders in particular get to work. The so-called Power Group of the sailing crew completes several sessions here every day. The heaviest dumbbell weighs 50 kilograms twice. Whew.
"Everything is super secret here"
Fitness coach Alex Hopson smiles. He has already got Great Britain's Olympic sailors on track and is now making sure that the Swiss are in top form for their various tasks. Of course, this "gym" also has all the other modern training equipment needed for hardened cup fighters or future "cyclists".
Everything still smells new in this base camp, especially in the corridors on the first floor, where outsiders are only allowed to go in exceptional circumstances and only when accompanied. "It's all super secret here," you hear again and again. The offices are hidden behind security doors that can only be opened with personal electronic IDs and codes - security is a top priority, especially in the working areas of the designers and engineers, and not just in this Cup building.
We are close to the sailors - and to everyone else too" (Aurore Kerr)
In addition to their workstations in front of large screens, the thinkers have a bonus: they can look directly into their own shipyard through windows. Geneva-based structural engineer Aurore Kerr says: "We've been here for two and a half months. The atmosphere is great. We are close to the sailors - and everyone else too." She had previously completed an internship at the US challenger American Magic, where she worked on foiling structures. Now she is right in her element at Alinghi Red Bull Racing as a structural analyst for foils.
After the distant view of the offices - all too secret to be seen up close - we return to the stairs, continue down and round the corner to the side forecourt directly on the harbour. Patrizio Bertelli's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team is based diagonally opposite on the other side. The Azzurri have been chasing the Cup since the turn of the millennium.
Neighbours are the British and their team Ineos Britannia
Two minutes' walk away, on the same side of the Swiss, the British have set up their headquarters for attempt number three to finally bring the trophy, which was snatched from the Isle of Wight by the Americans in 1851, back to their homeland. The other teams have also built themselves a temporary home not far away.
Looking inland from the Swiss harbour apron, you can see the blue back of the base camp with the team name emblazoned in large red letters. Of course, the red bull from the title sponsor is not missing either, which is also depicted on the yachts and brings a combative note to the game, especially here in Spain. The entrances to the three halls of different sizes, all of which were open on this day, are located next to each other: the sailing loft on the left, the rigging department in the centre and the "shipyard" on the right, where the bow of the Swiss AC40 racer stands out boldly.
Some things may seem crazy. But that's only because nobody has done it before" (Dan Smith)
Behind it, the AC75 yacht "ETNZ 1" purchased second-hand by Emirates Team New Zealand with the internal Swiss title "BoatZero" is jacked up - and well concealed. The new Cup yachts, of which each team is only allowed to build one, are only just being built. A new, self-developed AC75 mast hangs clearly visible under the ceiling of the riggers of Team Alinghi Red Bull Racing. The old New Zealand mast stretches along the wall on the left and just above the floor once lengthways through the rather narrow hall. "We really take care of everything to do with rigging here," says Fernando "Harry" Sales, describing his team's tasks.
On the far right, the shipyard is the heart of the base camp. Dan Smith, who is taking part in the America's Cup for the fifth time, says with a smile: "If anyone in the design office has a crazy idea, it's us who build it." After a short pause, he adds: "Some things may seem crazy. But that's only because no one has done it before."
Learnt on the Hooksiel shipyard, a master in the America's Cup
Dan Smith is one of the "shadow workers" in the America's Cup, who are rarely or never in the limelight, but without whom no success is conceivable. Smith has won the Cup twice and lost it twice. He says: "I'm ready for another win." He knows that countless night shifts lie ahead of him again in the final year of this Cup cycle.
Ties Rabe can confirm that. The master boat builder, who grew up in Steinhagen near Bielefeld, has been the most experienced boat builder in the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team since summer 2022. "I like doing my job. Boatbuilding is great," says the 51-year-old, who has been one of the quiet but effective realisers of many well-known regatta projects. He makes as little fuss as possible about his goodness. Rabe once learnt his trade at the Hooksiel shipyard. Today, he belongs to that small circle of highly experienced boat builders who are recommended from one project to the next by the highest authorities.
I enjoy reacting to situations. I like the challenge" (Ties Rabe)
In this case, Shore Crew Manager Tim Hacket brought Ties Rabe onto the team of Swiss challengers. When asked why his services are in such demand for major campaigns such as the illbruck Challenge, "Uca", the Ocean Race teams of Puma or "ABN Amro I", many other prominent projects and now also for Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the down-to-earth boatbuilding virtuoso with the sea-blue eyes has almost no answer. After a moment's thought, he says: "I enjoy reacting to situations. I like the challenge."
I am with my favourite team" (Ties Rabe)
Rabe is known for being able to parry all possible and impossible situations with the highest level of craftsmanship in the boat building sector of professional racing stables. In a German craft business, he would perhaps be called a workshop foreman. Ties Rabe currently lives in Barcelona with his partner Polly and appreciates his work for the Swiss. He has had several offers from the Cup world, but feels at home with Alinghi Red Bull Racing. "I'm with my favourite team. It's a new team that hasn't yet become so well established. You can make a good contribution there."
Ties Rabe has also brought Adrian Bleninger into the team of challengers, whom he got to know and appreciate while working together for Charlie Enright's Ocean Race winning team 11th Hour Racing. "I knew that Adrian would be very good to work with," says Rabe about the 31-year-old compatriot from the Augsburg Sailing Club. A strong German duo thus enriches the boatbuilding department of the ambitious Swiss comeback teams in the 37th America's Cup.
