Yachting: Giant multihulls in line to contest Cup

The BMW Oracle team, shown scooting away from Alinghi, are already designing boats for the next America's Cup. Photo / Supplied

As the organisers of the 34th America's Cup gathered in Valencia overnight to reveal the shape of the next event, it has emerged that preparations are already under way at BMW Oracle's boat-building operations in Warkworth to build giant multihulls like those that raced for the cup in February.

After months of speculation, BMW Oracle chief executive Russell Coutts will finally provide some clarity to the next regatta, which is expected to be staged in 2013 or 2014 in a wing-powered 70-plus foot multihull design.

In advance of the announcement, online rumours claim BMW Oracle have been quietly building two 70ft catamarans with soft sails at their facility in Warkworth.

There was no evidence yesterday of any construction at BMW Oracle's boat yard on Woodcocks Rd in Warkworth, where Larry Ellison's team moved its main boat building operations at the beginning of last year.

However, former Team New Zealand mastman Matt Mason, who crewed on board Oracle's 90ft trimaran which blitzed Alinghi 3-0 in the deed of gift challenge earlier this year, confirmed the team have been working on a design for a smaller catamaran (40-50ft) but said the build was yet to begin.

It is believed these boats will be used as a test design for pre-events in 2011-12.

There has been talk for some time that BMW Oracle's intention is to start pre-regattas for the next event in April next year on yachts they would provide, similar to the format of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Series.

The Louis Vuitton series, which BMW Oracle played a key role in establishing, is expected to morph into the America's Cup pre-regattas.

The move to multihulls is just one of several cornerstones of the next competition which were to have been revealed in the press conference overnight, held after the Herald went to print.

With a vision of boosting the commercial future of the America's Cup, it is expected Coutts' plans will involve several significant deviations from traditional yacht racing, including a new boat, a new format and rules for the competitors.

The image of the America's Cup was severely damaged during a bitter 2-year court fight between Oracle and two-time champion Alinghi of Switzerland.

The switch from traditional monohulls to catamarans would make for faster, more exciting racing as organisers hope to make the event more television-friendly.

But the glaring omission from the announcement will be the venue, as the complex negotiations over which city will host the event continue.

San Francisco, home of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, is Ellison's first-choice venue, but negotiations with local government have proven problematic.

Venues in Italy, home of challenger of record Mascalzone Latino, Portugal and the Middle East have also been mooted, while Valencia is another possibility.

A decision is scheduled before December 31.