©Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi
AL5 with Matterhorn/Cervino on the background

On August 7th a really exceptional transport took place from Lake Geneva (Sui) to Genoa(Ita). AL5 the huge (90ft) catamaran recently built by Alinghi to defend the America's Cup in the 33rd edition of the oldest sport trophy was ready to finally reach the sea. Being built in Villeneuve on Lake Geneva this means that it should somehow cover 270km to reach the nearest port that's Genoa. Not just that, it also means that, like a new version of Hannibal's elephants it should find a way to pass over the Alps!
The amazing feat has been realized by lifting the monster with the biggest helicopter of the world the russian Mil Mi26 which than have flown the boat over the Great Saint Bernard Pass into Italy, after a "pit-stop" in Biella to refuel it continued on to Genoa where it landed at 14:30 outside the Yacht Club Italiano.

This amazing voyage has been photographed by Carlo Borlenghi from another smaller helicopter. These are his amazing shots: