33rd America's Cup - Why it will be in multihull

by Sebastien Destremau on 30 Nov 2007 Although no real information is backing these thoughts, it would be foolish not to seriously consider that the 33rd America's Cup is going to be sailed in Multihull in 2008.

Let's consider the situation for a moment.

On one side, we have a terribly disappointed Alinghi and ACM who have been putting the blame on Oracle for putting the Cup into this mess - really it would be fair to say that Alinghi pushed the rules with the 33rd protocol and were smart enough to find a challenger able to sign it!!! But then who is to blame??? Alinghi or Desafio?

You are struggling with organizing an event after having lost your sponsors and the momentum of the 32nd America's Cup.

You are going to feel pretty miserable sitting in front of the American team and negotiate with.... your ex best mate Russell Coutts??

No way! So on the Swiss corner it will be tough to accept anything coming from a team that showed so little on the water last summer ... but has been so smart lately and declared a winner by New York Judge.

Now let's look at the Oracle side
If you were Larry Ellison, would you really order your staff to work hard at a 'conventional' Americas Cup in a couple of years? Yes??? Are you Sure???

Well let’s look at that for a second.

You have been pouring an enormous amount of money into it for the past eight years with little results
You took a slap in the face last summer when America was not able to rich the challenger's final for the first time in history

By allowing a conventional cup, you could be eliminated again before having a shot at the Cup
Thanks to your very smart advisers you lodged a challenge back in July. This bold move is now giving you the opportunity to take the Defender.

Although money is not an issue for you, you could run one of the cheapest campaigns of recent time.

And if you were Russell Coutts, what would you be thinking right now?

Well, you thought could be pretty similar to your boss's (and not only because he is paying you).

You have a been a fervent supporter of radical changes in the Cup.

You know dam well that would be your best chance to bring the cup back to America.

You have hired the best multihull designers (Van Pethegen - Lauriot Prevost and rumours has it that the mould is almost completed.

You have hired the best multihull skipper F.Cammas and you could start sailing immediately on Groupama 3.

Why would you do all of these if it was not to go ahead with an America's Cup in multihull?

But also

You have been working pretty hard at developing the WSL (World Sailing League) with your mate P.Cayard.

Win or lose on the water, would the 33rd America's Cup in multihulls launch your WSL circuit in stellar fashion??? ...

If all the answers are ....Yes Yes Yes, what now?