Monohulls for the 36th America’s Cup

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, as the winner of the 35th America’s Cup, and Circolo della Vela Sicilia, as the Challenger of Record, are gradually dropping breadcrumbs as to where the road will head for the 36th America’s Cup. The latest update is the event will return to monohulls.

Defender Emirates Team New Zealand have now confirmed challenger head Patrizio Bertelli’s suggestion today (September 11) that the next America’s Cup will be sailed in high performance monohull yachts.

A team of designers, lead by Emirates Team New Zealand Design Coordinator Dan Bernasconi, are now working on various monohull concepts which will eventually help shape the AC36 Class Rule.

In a statement from the defender, “Emirates Team New Zealand have been consulting with a number of potential challengers and there is an overall desire to have a spectacular monohull yacht that will be exciting to match race, but also one that the public and sailors can relate to as a sail boat that really challenges a full crew of professional yachtsman around the race track.”

This latest update follows an announcement on July 18 that these two teams are considering the possibility of the 36th America’s Cup Match and the preceding Challenger Selection Series being conducted in Auckland in early 2021 during the New Zealand summer.

Additionally, they intend for the Protocol to contain a “constructed in country” requirement for competing yachts and a nationality requirement for competing crew members.

In an interview in Italian daily newspaper La Stampa, Bertelli reveals the decision to return to monohulls was a condition to his financial support of the New Zealand team. With regard to the nationality clause for the America’s Cup, Bertelli sees it as a means for each competing country develop their sailors. “My future goal is to grow young Italian talents.”

Further details of the Protocol for the 36th America’s Cup will be announced at the end of September 2017.