470 Olympian Jordi Calafat assists Swiss team

“I am trying to remember my skills from the last millennium in order to try to help these 470 sailors! The rules seem stiffer than they used to be, but apart from that, sailing these boats is still the same.

“In 1992 I was a professional sailor, nowadays the teams are more professional compared to what we used to be. I remember from the Barcelona days, we trained a lot on the water, so it was enough physical training. We didn’t have digital cameras, I don’t think they were on the market yet, but all these tools are quite useful now.

“Winning is a combination of many things, but obviously like any regatta, speed is key. My experience in the Olympics is that 30 per cent of the team goes a little bit crazy beforehand because of the pressure, so it’s good not to be one of these people. I just try to sail fast, clean and without risk. If Emmanuelle Rol and Anne-Sophie Thilo achieve something out of it then it is good.”

More information about the Alinghi Performance Programme:
This exercise is part of the Alinghi Performance Programme – a new concept aimed at fostering and supporting sailing talent – the team provides coaching support to the Swiss Olympic hopefuls and the base as a training facility.

Contribution from the Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup to members of the Performance Programme includes technical support from team experts in weather data, electronics, sailing tactics, training methodology, physical and mental preparation; all in collaboration with the team’s existing programmes and coaches. The Alinghi base in Valencia will also be made available for training sessions. “The athletes have some great expertise in their own coaches and we are just looking to supplement this in any way we can – there’s a good chance that we will learn as much from them as they might from us,” says Brad Butterworth.

The Alinghi Performance Programme debuts as a collaboration with the Swiss Sailing Team, the body that manages the participation of Swiss sailors in international competition, including the Olympic Games and it will develop as a long term commitment of support. The teams that have been selected to represent Switzerland in Beijing will be the first ones to benefit from Alinghi’s assistance in different areas of their campaigns.

Nathalie Brügger (Club de Voile Estavayer-le-Lac), competing in the Laser Radial Class, recently received weather assistance from Alinghi’s Jon Bilger, who provided predictions and race course analysis during her participation in the World Championships in Auckland. Emmanuelle Rol and Anne-Sophie Thilo (Club Nautique de Pully), competing in the 470 Class, are in Valencia for a week of 470 training with 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist and Alinghi strategist, Jordi Calafat. Christoph Bottoni, (Circolo Vela Lugano) competing in the Laser Class, is also training in Valencia this week. Weather assistance on site in Qingdao by Alinghi experts is expected and other young sailors, included in the various Swiss Sailing Team programmes, will also receive support in the coming months.

“This programme should be measured in terms of sharing skills and know-how to help these young Olympians improve their performance at the Games in Qingdao,” says Brad Butterworth. “Switzerland has some great sailing talent and enthusiasm for the sport is growing exponentially - in some part thanks to Alinghi’s success in the America’s Cup.”