I think multihull sailing has suffered for years in trying to appeal to a few 'traditionalists' who don't want to move on. Having fought for years just to protect the interests of cat sailors I now view the traditionalists as very much a lost cause. Formula one will never convince staunch green supporters to aspire to motoring, and 60 year old plywood dinghies do very little to tempt people (of all ages) away from 'virtual excitement'
If the AC gets the right media coverage it is more likely to grab the attention of the open-minded who, if directed towards active contemporary multihulls, may bring some much needed new blood and maybe fresh ideas into the sport. It is an opportunity to be seized. The sheer cost of it all should grab some headlines. Any dramatic failures, even more.

Cheshirecatman