Alinghi and the 2003 America's Cup : strategy to win

Abstract

This case describes the effort and project of Alinghi, the Swiss syndicate who won the America's Cup in 2003 in New Zealand on the first try. Winning with only the 4th largest budget and based in a land-locked country, the team applied effective strategies on all fronts to outdo the competition: (1) visioning process; (2) team hiring; (3) technology and design; (4) sponsorship; (5) race strategies; and (6) many other aspects described and supported by quotes from key members of the crew. This case has been effectively used in a number of classroom settings where leadership or globalisation were an issue. The purpose of this case is for students to consider the key winning elements in the Alinghi challenge, and what they tell us about running international or global firms.