The landlocked European nation of Switzerland is not renowned for its seafaring traditions. However, in Auckland, New Zealand during the last three months this stereotype was firmly knocked on the head, as the Swiss-based Alinghi Challenge, skippered by Russell Coutts, won yachting's blue ribbon event, the America's Cup, from two-time holders Team New Zealand in a dramatic 5 - 0 series. This has been one of the most unprecedented yachting victories in the 152-year history of the venerable competition.
At the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland - the Official Scientific Advisor to the Alinghi Challenge for the 2003 America's Cup - researchers working in the group of Prof. Alfio Quarteroni have applied leading-edge numerical flow simulation techniques using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. These simulations have provided valuable information to the Alinghi Designers Rolf Vrolijk and Manolo Ruiz del Elvira who, together with Coordinator Grant Simmer, designed the winning high-performance Alinghi racing yacht.
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