SAN DIEGO (AP) — Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison are certain they made the right decision to have the next America’s Cup sailed in fast 72-foot catamarans.
While traditionalists weren’t so sure of the move, Coutts and Ellison already have visions of the 72-foot cats sprinting across San Francisco Bay in 2013 and pumping some adrenaline into the competition for the oldest trophy in international sports.
Coutts, who sailed undefeated through three America’s Cup matches, raves about the 45-foot prototype being tested in New Zealand. Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corp. who bankrolled the team that brought the silver trophy back to the United States last year, can’t wait to get his hands on the wheel of one.
An America’s Cup World Series begins later this year in the 45-foot cats. The 72-footers will come on line next year.
