AINSLIE And BAIRD Get The Wheel For Act 13

The Defender of the America’s Cup, Alinghi, will turn to Ed BAIRD (USA) to helm the boat in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, whilst Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean BARKER (NZL) has said he will hand over helming duties to Ben AINSLIE (GBR). The revelations came at today’s America’s Cup skippers’ press conference.

‘Ed BAIRD is going to steer the boat,’ announced Alinghi skipper Brad BUTTERWORTH (NZL) at the opening press conference. ‘But we might give Peter HOLMBERG [(ISV)] a shot later in the regatta. We still haven’t decided who’s going to do the Cup so we’re just trying to give the guys as many races to do as possible.’

Following the fleet racing Act 13, Alinghi will not race again before the beginning of the 32nd America’s Cup Match on 23 June.

BARKER says the move to give double Olympic gold medallist AINSLIE the helm is part of the normal crew rotation Emirates Team New Zealand has planned into its programme.

‘It’s just about continuing our policy of having people available to step in if there’s any sort of illness or injury on the boat,’ said BARKER. ‘Ben has been a key part of this team all the way through and if for whatever reason I’m not on the boat in the Louis Vuitton Cup, Ben needs to be ready to go in and do his best to help the team.’

The America’s Cup Match and Challenger/Defender Series are designated as ISAF Special Events. For more information on the America’s Cup, the Louis Vuttion Acts and the teams competing, visit the official America’s Cup website – www.americascup.com.

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