From today's Scuttlebutt:

CONTINUING THE PROCESS
Rating rule authorities in America and Britain have been commissioned to
draft the rules for the next generation of America’s Cup yacht. In asking US
SAILING and the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Seahorse Rating affiliate to write
the rules, BMW ORACLE Racing and Golden Gate Yacht Club, winner of the 33rd
America’s Cup last February, has ensured the process is neutral and
independent.

“We’ve always said that the new design will be for the America’s Cup
community. The result with be a ‘non-partisan yacht’ rather than a
‘defender’s yacht’,” said Ian Burns, Design Coordinator for BMW ORACLE
Racing. “A great deal of input was sought from the America’s Cup community
and the concept briefs given to the rule writers reflect that feedback.”

In a twin-track process, US SAILING will author a multihull rule and the
RORC’s Seahorse Rating a canting-keel monohull rule. “It would be premature
to rule either a monohull or multihull in and the other out at this stage,”
commented Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing. “Which type of boat is
best for racing and media impact is one of many evaluations we will be
testing over the coming months.”

The choice between monohull and multihull will be made after the conclusion
of these trials, the first round of which is scheduled for Valencia in late
July. “Either option will provide high performance, exciting viewing and
challenges to design, build and sailing teams,” commented Burns. Versatile
performance in light and strong winds is considered essential to minimize
delayed or postponed racing.

In response to feedback from potential teams, the original concepts for both
types have been scaled back from 26m (82 feet) LOA to 22m (72 feet) for
tangible cost reduction. An engine will be used to cant the keel on the
monohull and move appendages on the multihull. The rule authors have been
tasked to specify an environmentally friendly, smart, low-emission engine or
power-pack. “This offers a great opportunity for the America’s Cup community
to take a leading role in this increasingly applied technology,” said Burns.
“But there will be no power- assistance for crews to trim or hoist sails.
Both the monohull and multihull will be very athletic boats to race hard.”

To ensure fairness, all teams will simultaneously receive updates and
information from the authors with regards to progress. The briefs to the
rule authors outline parameters for both types of boat to give base-line
dimensions. This ‘box rule’ method should ensure boats designed by different
teams are similar in style to guarantee the close racing the America’s Cup
thrives on. Otherwise, the instructions to the rule writers are deliberately
open to afford them full creative freedom. -- Read on:
http://tinyurl.com/39gfaw7