America’s Cup organisers and competitors are drawing up plans to cut costs for yachting’s oldest race in 2017 by introducing smaller boats.
The last America’s Cup, which has been raced since 1851, was won in 2013 in San Francisco by Oracle Team USA in the AC72, a 22-metre-long (72 feet) yacht.
The prototype initially unveiled for the 35th edition of the race in Bermuda in 2017 had already been reduced by three metres to 19m in length. And indications are that the reduction might not stop there.
“After reviewing prototypes of the new AC45 sports boats (13.45m in length) being tested on the water over the past several months, it is clear that if we raced smaller boats in 2017, we could dramatically reduce costs without sacrificing any of the spectacle or the design, engineering and athletic challenge fundamental to the America’s Cup,” said the race’s commercial commissioner Harvey Schiller.
“We have a responsibility to think of what is best for the long-term health of the America’s Cup as well as improving the value equation for team principals and partners. Racing a smaller boat in 2017 and beyond is a big step in the right direction.
“The existing operational costs of teams is much too high with a boat like the AC62. We discussed making this change early last year at a competitors meeting in London but at that stage only Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand were in favor of using a smaller boat.
“But now that the teams have seen these new boats in action there is a clear majority of competitors who support the idea. I’d like to be able to say we have unanimous support from all the teams but that is not the case.”
Speed in the new boat is expected to be similar to what was achieved in the last America’s Cup through increased time foiling and advances in design and engineering, organisers added.
The rule changes are still being drafted, with teams to be asked to vote on the changes before the end of March.
One yachtsman already convinced that the change would be for the better was Briton Ben Ainslie, a four-time Olympic gold medallist.
“This will be a big change, but it is a necessary one if we are to create a sustainable America’s Cup for the future,” said Ainslie, the skipper and team principal of Ben Ainslie Racing.
“These boats will create a significant cost saving whilst still providing a real challenge for sailors and designers alike.”