In a gala performance, the Cup defenders defeated Team Germany by 2.16 minutes at the finish and lead the intermediate standings unbeaten with 7:0 points ahead of the trio of pursuers Luna Rossa, Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle Racing (6 points).
The Swiss were facing their first defeat in the duel against the German team led by skipper Jesper Bank. When the attachment of their mainsail broke shortly after the starting signal, the race seemed to be decided in favour of the Germans. But the mishap, which could have caused other teams to abandon the race, only spurred the "Cup kings" on even more.
In a flash, the coxswain Pieter van Nieuwenhuyzen allowed himself to be pulled into the mast. After 15 minutes of repairs, he managed to fix the mainsail again and start the race to catch up.
At this point, double Olympic champion Bank and his team were already 300 metres ahead. Not enough to withstand the impressive attack by the Swiss. The "Alpen-Express" was able to overtake the GER-72, which once again blew a spinnaker, halfway through the duel. "They are simply sailing in a different league," said Jesper Bank. Alinghi is currently the only team still unbeaten in Trapani. They have not conceded a single match race in the entire 2005 season.
After the midday defeat against the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge, Team Germany is in ninth place in the intermediate classification after four days of racing with one win and six defeats. The South African team with Hamburg boat captain Tim Kröger is in eighth place (2 wins).
