profession: pilot career: actor - Jet Aviation

At the time, most boats that size were built
of aluminum, but the two sailors decided
to make the yacht out of composites. After
Fehlmann used it to win the Whitbread
Race, they disbanded the company.
The potential of carbon materials had
caught their attention, however, and a
year later they moved to a shop on a hill
above Lake Geneva and brought the
company back to life. Cardis soon took
over leadership of it.
01 02
Decision continued to hone its production
skills with carbon composites and
work closely with the Swiss Federal Institute
of Technology. It built many boats,
most of them prototypes. In 2001 the
company constructed the Alinghi boat
that went on to win the 2003 America’s
Cup in Auckland. This was the first time a
European team had triumphed in the
prestigious competition since the inaugural
race in 1851. It was also the first time
a team had captured the Cup on its first
01 The Alinghi 91 was built for the
2007 America’s Cup races
02 The Alinghi 91 finished the
deciding match of the race just
one second ahead of its competitor
attempt. Decision built two more Alinghi
boats for the 2007 America’s Cup which
the team won again.
In the final and deciding match of the
2007 Cup, Alinghi was one second faster
than its competitor. At this level of competition,
the little things count, which is
why Decision is always analyzing
its processes and finding ways to make
improvements. “There are thousands of
small details,” says Cardis, “and if you
Outlook 02/2008
33