America's Cup: Rivals heap praise of Team New Zealand's 'radical' design

The new Team New Zealand monohull design has been praised by Australian Oracle sailor Tom Slingsby. Photo / Emirates Team New Zealand

British sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie is excited with the designs for the new America's Cup yachts.

Ainslie, who heads Land Rover BAR's Cup challenge for the Auckland regatta in 2021, is relishing the chance to push the boundaries of sailing once again after the new boat was unveiled yesterday.

Emirates Team New Zealand have scrapped the catamarans of the last two Cups and along with challengers Luna Rossa have released the concept for the all-new 75ft foiling monohulls.

"They have delivered a truly high-performance boat that will make the next America's Cup an incredible sporting and technical challenge," said Ainslie.

Brilliant America's Cup design but expect carnage - Sailing Professor Mark Orams

"In the right conditions, this boat will be as quick as or quicker than the ACC foiling catamarans raced in the last Cup. The sport has gained a lot of new fans and this boat will cement their interest in the America's Cup and build on a very strong base."

While Ainslie is finalising his design team for the boat, which features two large canting T-foils and a single T-foil rudder to lift the boat into the air, he has already made one critical signing, bringing in Grant Simmer as his chief executive.

The Australian was the navigator who ended the New York Yacht Club's 132-year dominance of the America's Cup in 1983, designed the Alinghi boats that won the Cup in 2003 and 2007, and was general manager of Oracle Team USA when they triumphed in 2013.

Fellow sailor Tom Singsby has described the design as 'radical' and 'amazing'.

Team New Zealand reveal new America's Cup boat

The Australian was part of Oracle's success in 2013 and believes the monohull which features twin canting T-foils will revolutionise the sport.

"I had got a few tip offs as to what it may look like - yeah it just looks like an amazing boat and I think it will be pretty fast," Slingsby told Newshub.

Slingsby was aboard Oracle earlier this year for the 35th America's Cup, where they were beaten by Peter Burling and the Team New Zealand crew.

The 33-year-old was surprised at Team New Zealand design co-ordinator Dan Bernasconi's claim the boat could be faster than the impressive speeds achieved in Bermuda.

"The boats in Bermuda were pretty efficient, during the America's Cup match we didn't have over 10 knots (of wind) but we still got up to over 40 knots in boat speed so if they can do that then all props go to them (Team New Zealand) ... impressive," said Slingsby.

The 2012 Olympic gold medallist also praised Team New Zealand for designing a boat that captured conventional sailing as well as appeasing new sailing fans.

"You can never take a backward step - Team New Zealand made it pretty clear that they wanted to race monohulls and I'm very glad they decided to push the limits of what we can do in our sport."

Slingby is working hard to generate enough funds to produce an Australian bid and hoped to announce a challenge in June.