Winning start for Neville Crichton & Brad Butterworth

Alfa Romeo, the 30 metre yacht owned and skippered by Neville Crichton, has opened her 2008 season 2008 by winning 4 Line Honours (first across the finish line) at the Regate Pirelli and coming top of the IRC Group A class field.

Things went very smoothly on board with two old New Zealand friends, Neville Crichton and Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth, teaming up. With four America's Cups to his name between New Zealand and Alinghi, Butterworth is one of the leading competitive yachtsmen in the world. The Alfa Romeo and Alinghi team members immediately bonded and worked perfectly together, and they're sure to be one the main items of interest this season, both for spectators and for the crew themselves, who will have the chance to match their race-strategy and boat-handling skills. This is a mix that could provide a new burst of energy to Alfa Romeo, already universally known as one of the fasts craft in the world.

This new victory involved winning the first two off-shore races and then the long 66 mile night event, with Alfa Romeo today making it four out of four Line Honours crossing the finish line ahead of the fleet once again in a race marked by light and changeable winds, which didn't however manage to halt her 24 tons. The race was sailed off Portofino with a large number of craft crowding the start line all eager to catch a glimpse of the yachting prowess of the 135 competing teams. The Pirelli victory brings Alfa Romeo's Line Honour tally to 121.

Owner and skipper Neville Crichton had this to say “This is the first time we've entered the Regate Pirelli and it was a great experience, both because of the number of boats racing and because the teams absolutely wanted to give their all in this 39 year-old event. The racing season's only just begun and we're still fine-tuning our boat to get the most out of her, with 60 cm extra length overall over last year, but it's a great start and we can only hope things go on like this.”.

Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team leader and strategist on board Alfa Romeo, said “Alfa Romeo is a very high-tech and surprisingly fast craft, the ideal high-performing boat for anyone who loves racing. Everything went smoothly on board with the crews meshing perfectly. Racing on Alfa Romeo gave us a great feeling and a new experience, and basically I love being on board”.

Francesco Rapetti, or Cico as he's called, whose win with Alinghi made him the only Italian in the history of the America's Cup to have won the prestigious silver cup, stressed that “Making my début on board Alfa Romeo, I really couldn't have asked more as a yachtsman than to win while racing between Portofino, where I was born, and Santa Margherita, where I live. The yacht was very fast through the water and my first experience with Alfa Romeo was a great one, I felt at home on her and I think we'll continue to do well."