Eric,
To get back to the mainsail shape on Alinghi, I think it is shaped much differently from what we are used to seeing on beach cats, because the draft is so far back. (Non-rotating mast? And more jib overlap?)

Also, what is the deal with all those wrinkles radiating upward toward the mast? Looks sort of like a stretchy plastic garbage bag.

And I don't know, but are they using inflatable battens on that sail? Whether yes or no, does that kind of batten work on beach-cat sails?