Tudor Team Alinghi have revealed their women’s and youth squads after an intensive week of AC40 training in Naples. The two-time America’s Cup winners are building towards the next edition of the Women’s and Youth America’s Cups, with selected sailors set to return to the Italian city in March for further preparation.
The Swiss syndicate’s announcement follows a strong showing at the Naples Prelim Regatta in September, where Tudor Team Alinghi entered the final day in third place before some unforced errors cost them. Rather than packing up and heading home, the team stayed on in Naples with an eye firmly on the future.
In a fan newsletter update, the team outlined the productive training camp. Six days of sailing were originally planned, though thunderstorms forced the cancellation of one session. Sailor and Women & Youth leader Nathalie Brgger described the week as a resounding success. “We had four days of proper sea breeze, with seven to twelve knots on flat water, perfect conditions for learning,” she explained. “By the end of the week, the sailors were driving together without any help from me and Jann Schüpbach, and the youth team even managed to sail the AC40 without a coach on board.”
Brgger praised the squad’s attitude and commitment, noting how they supported the shore crew with boat cleaning, communications and safety duties, helping maximise time on the water. “We improved day by day, leaving us with clear goals to work on at our next camp in March. We even had time for some team building on the padel court.”
The selected sailors feature several returning faces from Barcelona 2024. The Tudor Team Alinghi Women’s Team comprises Laurane Mettraux (SUI, SNG), Jessica Berthoud (SUI, SNG), Milly Boyle (GBR-SUI), Marie Mazuay (SUI, SNG), and Tine Rossel (SUI). The Youth Team includes Micha De Weck, Arnaud Grange (SNG), Joshua Richner (Gstaad Yacht Club), Nilo Schärer (Thunersee Yacht Club), Matthieu Sistek (former Shore Team, Club Nautique de Lutry), and Nick Zeltner (Regatta Club Oberhofen, all Suisse). Mettraux, Mazuay, Grange, and Richner are all returning members from Barcelona.
Youth sailor Joshua Richner spoke about how quickly the squad felt at home on the AC40 and how clearly each sailor understood their role. For him, representing Alinghi carries enormous weight. “So many people know the story. I only have to say ‘Alinghi’, and everyone thinks of the two-time America’s Cup winner. That motivates me and my generation enormously.”
Laurane Mettraux echoed those sentiments. “There are a few things you want to achieve in life, and sailing with Alinghi is definitely one of them. I’m really looking forward to helping build a strong team, and it already feels great.”
While most teams have departed Naples, Tudor Team Alinghi continues to work from the city alongside the French team and GB1. Meanwhile, BoatOne, the team’s AC75 racing yacht, is undergoing final modifications at a shipyard in Genoa to comply with revised rules. In just a few weeks, the boat will arrive at her new home in Bagnoli, Naples. After a commissioning period, the team expects to be sailing before the year-end break.
Exciting times lie ahead for the Swiss syndicate as they build towards the next America’s Cup cycle with fresh talent and renewed ambition.
