Alinghi Red Bull Racing Base has officially presented its race yacht, BoatOne, in a grand ceremony that featured a human tower constructed by the traditional Castellers. The milestone marks a significant shift to the final competition phase of the campaign with the official opening of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup just a little more than four months away.
The christening ceremony took place at the dockside where BoatOne was formally introduced to the world. Chiara Bertarelli, the designated honouree, cracked the bottle of Champagne across the bow, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the team's journey towards the America's Cup.
The BoatOne is the first vessel that Alinghi Red Bull Racing Base has designed and built together. Team members watched with collective pride as the racing machine was craned into the water for its first contact with the sea and some initial systems checks.
“This is the most amazing thing with a boat like this,” said Principal Designer Marcelino Botin. “It's the result of many people bringing their skills, expertise, and passion to reach a result that reflects the team's expectation.”
While it was a day to soak in pride, there was also the acknowledgement that there is much work ahead. “Launching the boat marks the next stage for us, finally sailing BoatOne. The Sailing team will now have to keep up the amazing work done by the designers and boat builders,” said Skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis.
Overall, the boat presentation was a momentous occasion for Alinghi Red Bull Racing Base, marking the end of one phase and the beginning of another. With the launch of BoatOne, the team is now one step closer to realizing its dream of winning the prestigious America's Cup.
