"Ellison sees the Atlantic Division championship regatta being held in the Port of Rome and the Pacific Division championship in Shanghai. A couple of months later, the Atlantic and Pacific division winners will race their AC60s off Honolulu for the Louis Vuitton Cup. The Louis Vuitton winner would stay in Hawaii to race their AC60 against Oracle Team USA in the 35th America's Cup."
"This time, the AC45 racing would be more than a pretty preseason show leading up to the America's Cup. Each AC45 race would determine whether you qualify for the division championship in AC60s in 2017."
"So the next America's Cup actually begins with the AC45 racing in 2015," Ellison said. "Every race is important - just like Formula One."
I like the sound of all of that EXCEPT the whole "racing in hawaii" part. San Francisco was pretty much perfect to watch the racing from and I can't imagine accomodations as such could be found in Hawaii (Of course, I could be totally incorrect on that account)
Somebody here pointed out that Hawaii would be more accessible to Australia, New Zealand, and Asian countries which makes it seem a little more possible.
As far as a bluff / leverage to San Fransisco - yes. I think that's definitely part of point. However, the two parties are pretty far apart on the negotiations...so who knows? The America's Cup needs to get the city nailed down pretty soon and it looks less likely to be San Fran as more time passes with no news.
