The fifth version of the new America's Cup class rules was published yesterday in Geneva. They were developed in collaboration with designers, sailors and the America's Cup Committee and will ensure faster, lighter and more agile cuppers in the future.
The new edition of the rules differs from its predecessor in a few significant ways. The idea was to make the races of the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia, Spain, closer and more dynamic - simply more exciting.
The maximum displacement has been reduced by one tonne, the maximum draught increased by ten centimetres and the downwind sail area raised by eight percent. This should create more opportunities for overtaking manoeuvres on the downwind courses. The number of crew members has been increased from 16 to 17. Otherwise, the margins for all the measurement parameters of the ACC yachts will be narrower than in the past.
Before Auckland, the "fourth version" still applied. Under this rule, designers were still allowed to vary the lengths of waterlines and sail areas quite generously and thus design ships with very different characteristics. In future, they will be virtually forced to design yachts that look more similar to each other than ever before. This should also make the races off Valencia even more exciting.
Responsible for drawing up the America's Cup rules is the Cup defender, the Société Nautique de Genève, the Challenger of Record (official challenger, in this case the Golden Gate Yacht Club) and the America's Cup management, represented by Technical Director Ken McAlpine.
The new rules will come into force in 2005, so during the 2004 season Cup yachts will still be allowed to sail according to the "fourth version" of the technical rules.
