While doing some googling I came across an article from 2000 that talks about Alinghi's LeBlack.
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/at...maran-99143_article_seahorse_aug2000.pdf
Amazing how similar the new boat looks compared to LeBlack.

There was a whole discussion going at BoatDesign as well, but not very conclusive whether tri's are faster.
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/multihulls/catamaran-vs-trimaran-8101.html