By TERRY MADDAFORD
There will be no more trips for the boys on Alinghi when the Swiss challenger goes head-to-head Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.
Throughout the Louis Vuitton Cup the syndicate's 32 sailors all had time on the water.
Alinghi spokesman Bernard Schopfer said from the outset they had
regarded their sailing team as being one of 32 with all able to play a part.
"Naturally, we had a hard core of six or seven, including Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth, who have sailed every day," said Schopfer. "But at other times we have involved all the other sailors."
The musical chairs will stop now however with very little, if any, rotation in the America's Cup match, sticking with the top 16.
While the sailing team for Saturday's opening race in the series will not be announced until Friday, Schopfer said those who will be on SUI64 have already been told.
Schoper said he was expecting a big crowd to turn up for this morning's unveiling.
"We will continue to encourage people to visit our base. Around 30 per cent of the Alinghi base is open to the public all the time. We have had good support throughout and expect that to get even stronger in the lead-up to the racing."
And that support is not confined to Auckland.
As the momentum picks up here, so too has interest in Switzerland.
"From the time they started showing the Louis Vuitton Cup live on television at home the viewing figures have rocketed," said Schopfer. "We now know there are whole towns in Switzerland decorated in Alinghi colours and flying up to 400 flags.
"The America's Cup is reaching the whole country."
Schopfer said the long break between the end of the challenger's series and the cup race had not been an issue.
"It was something the challengers wanted.
"There was a feeling... that the gap was too short last time and that their crew were exhausted by the time it came to racing Team New Zealand."
Both Swiss boats will head out to prepare for the 1.15pm start on Saturday, meaning the whole 32-man "team" will be involved.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
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