Will Foils Decide the Cup(s)?

Six teams arrived in August 2010 at New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court facility in Newport, RI to compete for the International C-Class Catamaran Trophy. With the America’s Cup now in wing-powered catamarans, this event that years ago was nicknamed the Little America’s Cup had attracted significant attention from the outside world.

Canadian Fred Eaton earned the defender role when he defeated American Steve Clark during the previous event hosted by Eaton’s home club of Royal Canadian Yacht Club (Toronto, ONT) in September 2007. In 2010, Eaton and crew Magnus Clarke faced Australians Glenn Ashby and James Spithill, two sailors that were as desperate to win the title as they were eager to gain experience to prepare for the 2013 America’s Cup.

Eaton successfully defended his title in 2010, and hopes to continue his streak when the International C-Class Catamaran Championship is to be held September 2013 in Falmouth, UK.

“The ICCC rotates locations to help promote the fleet and the event,” explained Eaton. “In the earlier events, it was customary to race in the defender’s home waters, but Steve Clark thought it wasn’t helpful to force that if there was alternate interest. Typically, if you come and race, we’ll listen to your pitch to host the next event.

“Steve was the first to give up that ‘Defender’s right’, which is how we hosted it at RCYC in 2007. We followed his example in 2010 and allowed NYYC to be the host. I think he was right in his decision, since some of the newer teams seem to find the possibility of hosting a future event to be an attractive option attached to their participation.”

In 2010, the teams were from Australia, Britain, Canada (2), France, and USA. For the next edition, it appears that Steve Clark along with Britain and France (maybe 2 teams) will return, plus Italy and possibly Portugal. Additionally, a Swiss team with ties to the record-setting foiling trimaran l’Hydroptere intends to compete.

While foils were trialed on the 25-foot C-Class Catamaran prior to the 2007 championship, they did not sufficiently progress and have not been seen since. Could both the America’s Cup and the Little America’s Cup be foiling in 2013? Here is a photo from 2007