WOW! wow, WOW!~!!! HUGE news for multi-hulls!
America?s Cup transformed by radical changes
New class of boat and annual series of racing among introductions
VALENCIA, Spain (September 13, 2010) ? The America?s Cup, sailing?s most iconic event, has been re-energized and rejuvenated, ready for 2013 and the future.
The best sailors in the world will race on the fastest boats with the introduction of an exciting wingsail catamaran.
To build interest and audiences ahead of the 34th Match in 2013 is a new annual World Series, commencing in 2011.
A clear vision for the future led to analysis of the best practices in other major sports. Six months of dialogue with potential teams and stakeholders followed, resulting in the transformed competition details that were released today.
Highlights include:
New, exciting class of boat, the AC72 wingsail catamaran
New annual World Series starting in 2011
New Youth America?s Cup from 2012
Transformed media for television broadcast and online
Shorter, action-packed race format
Race delays minimized ? new boat and venues with reliable wind
Independent race management and fully empowered International Jury to avoid show-stopping disputes
Effective cost-cutting measures
Branding freedom for teams
One global website for all team and racing content
The annual America?s Cup World Series has been designed to create exposure and commercial sustainability for teams and their sponsors. The series featuring the cutting-edge catamaran will deliver exciting racing to new audiences ahead of the America?s Cup Match in 2013.
The AC72 class will be raced from 2012, and a second new boat will be used in next year?s competition for the America?s Cup World Series. Also powered by a wingsail, the AC45 is a scaled down one-design version of the AC72, and will provide a fast-track for competitors in wingsail technology.
?We believe this new format and new boat will put the America?s Cup back at the pinnacle of our sport. These changes will give equal opportunity to competitors and long-term economic stability to all teams and all commercial partners. We promised fairness and innovation and this is what we?ve delivered,? said Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing.
The Regatta Director of the independent organization America?s Cup Race Management, ACRM, will be appointed jointly by the Challenger and Defender board members. A financial model for the next Defender to maintain this vision of independent race management allows teams and partners to plan long-term involvement.
?I think that we need to acknowledge that the Defender has kept its word. The America?s Cup is going to have fair rules and a truly independent management of the racing,? said Vincenzo Onorato, President of Mascalzone Latino.
?This change should?ve happened years ago in my opinion. I can see why this important development could last for many years in the future,? Onorato said.
Limits on the number of boats, sails, equipment and support boats, as well as the introduction of no-sail periods will bring significant cost savings for all competitors. Crew sizes will be reduced to 11 members from 17.
For the first time onboard cameramen will be part of the innovative media model that is designed to significantly enhance the television broadcasts and internet content in an effort to grow audiences and bring added value to teams and partners.
In releasing the Protocol, the Defender has forfeited some of the rights traditionally enjoyed by the holder of the trophy in the interest of making the competition more balanced and fair. Majority approval of the competitors is required to amend the Protocol.
?During our six months of planning we spoke to the teams, to commercial partners, to media and to the fans. A clear and compelling vision emerged ? that to capture and communicate the excitement our sport can produce, we need the best sailors racing the fastest boat in the world,? Coutts said.
In an effort to develop the next generation of best sailors, the new AC45 will be used for the Youth America?s Cup beginning in 2012, a new initiative to provide young sailors a pathway to the America?s Cup.
With today?s release of the Protocol, class of boat and year in which the match will be held, three of the four cornerstones for the 34th Match are in place. The final piece, the venue, is scheduled to be announced by the end of the year.
Big,big, BIG changes to the America's Cup
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 01:02 PM
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 01:28 PM
right on! that sounds exciting for the entire sport of sailing...i see it benefitting cat sailing big time...and the junior league, brilliant! cheers! now if we can eliminate the BCS and bring a true championship series to ncaa football!
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bill harris
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 02:02 PM
whats a football? is that what goes on the top of your mast to stop it from turtlin? -
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 02:07 PM
Awesome news. Not that I minded seeing bmw/or blow the pants off of alinghi, but it should be more exciting from here.
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Rob
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 02:15 PM
i agree Rob, it has been more about who can blow the most money, this should even that up a lot..
the only casuallty here will probably be the x40 serious may lose it's racers... i can live with that (maybe x40's will be for sale for $1500.oo) :)
this is all speculation and premature.. but thats what i read..
edited by: MN3, Sep 13, 2010 - 10:10 PM -
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 07:41 PM
lets start a team!!!...quick, damon we need 15 mil., don't ask any questions...i got a feeling...
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bill harris
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Posted: Sep 13, 2010 - 10:49 PM
Oh puke.
I guess they won't go out in anything but perfect winds either. Give me a D class catamaran... oh wait here's one for 35k and it'll whip their @$$ especially in 20+knot wind and seas better than 2 ft as they will be sitting at the dock.
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Posted: Sep 14, 2010 - 05:17 PM
I can't wait to see these new cats, this is awesome! I'm really glad they chose giant beachcats instead of trimarans or monos, gives us a closer connection to the big leagues!
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Damon Linkous
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Posted: Sep 14, 2010 - 11:32 PM
I think that is great news, especially the lead-up and getting a bigger group involved. -
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Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 10:08 AM
It still will be restricted to those with lots of cash,.... but still seems like a great way to move the event/sport forward. there could be lots of trickle down effect to beach cats.
so in 40 years, when we buy our 20 year old boats.. we may have a faster rudder! :)
ps the mono-slugger, stickpot heads are going insane over this. go to the sailing anarchy forums and you will see the non stop chatter about how this is the end of sailing, the sky is falling, and this is the begging of the end... -
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Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 10:49 AM
I think Incognito andrw (I deliberately used lower case & camouflage spelling to make it less visible to those in power)& Damon have it right.
Not only will technology trickle down, giving us lighter faster boats, but the interest it generates may well lead to greater numbers entering the sport at younger ages. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most Catters seem to be well past our prime years. I don't see to many of the 20ish beach bum kids from the Hobie halcyon days. If they can build this into an exciting format, & get coverage to younger demographics, it can only lead to younger kids wanting to join in. Anything that results in greater demand for Cats can only be good for the sport, more builders etc.
PS- Did a.s get busted on the Anarchy site also & have to change names?
edited by: Edchris177, Sep 15, 2010 - 09:51 AM
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Posted: Sep 15, 2010 - 11:13 AM
YOU ARE WRONG, i have always been and will always be IN MY PRIME! ;~p
there has already been trickle down effect: the new curved boards on the f18's and a-cats are a result of r&d for the last AC. If you look at the alinghi hulls and the new C2's (capricorn) they are remarkably similar.
i can't wait until the lazer guided, forward looking wind scanner systems (that were on the bmw/o tri)are under $100 and will fit IN my spin pole (currently cost around a gwillion?)
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With a Racer?s Edge® laser wind sensor in hand, yacht racers and recreational sailors alike can now precisely measure the wind hundreds of meters in front of their vessel, -
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Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 10:54 AM
I want to see a sailboat class that is:
A) Boats can not be longer than 6 meters. (No other restrictions/foils OK!).
B) Crew weight must be at least 500lbs or have to carry weight to equal 500lbs.
C) The class runs no matter the weather with the exceptions of winds less than 5 knots and life threatening situations which are defined by majority vote of the racers on race day.
You want to bring a wing... fine.
You want to build an over-sized international moth... great!
Build a large WETA... fantastic.
"Run whatcha brung!"
Give sailing a chance for true innovation by freeing it from the restrictions and rules.
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Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 12:01 PM
its like the the nfl and major league baseball: the nfl created parity by salary caps, drug testing, revenue sharing and so on. major league baseball still is a "have and have nots" league(see yankees). the public has voted with there dollars and nfl is the worlds most profitable sports league, baseball(americas passtime) is struggleing to fill stadiums. the last americas cup was a joke, it wasn't even close. one design racing is a better platform for competitive results, the best team wins, not the richest. having said that, there still needs to be an "unlimited" class to push technology. being on television each year will build a much larger audience and hopefully, more sailors.
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bill harris
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Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 12:59 PM
then start a new race...
i think the new AC format couldn't be better..
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