Monohulls all but confirmed for America's Cup

Team New Zealand's Peter Burling with the America's Cup trophy.
Team New Zealand's Peter Burling with the America's Cup trophy.
The America's Cup is all but confirmed to return to monohulls.

Patrizio Bertelli, who heads challenger of record Luna Rossa, told Italian newspaper La Stampa the event would be moving away from catamarans.

The deal was effectively done over two years ago when Luna Rossa agreed to help out Team New Zealand ahead of the last America's Cup.

The Italian camp loaned Team NZ one of its test platforms and provided personnel assistance on the condition that if the Kiwi syndicate won in Bermuda, Luna Rossa would be named challenger of record and the event would return to monohulls.

"It was the condition for Luna Rossa to help them with men and means in the last edition," Mr Bertelli told La Stampa.

He said the new monohulls "will be very powerful boats" with foiling capabilities.

Team New Zealand have indicated they will announce the protocol for the 36th America's Cup later this month, with the class of boat the most highly anticipated detail in the document.Bertelli also confirmed there would also be tighter nationality rules, as has been sign-posted by Team New Zealand.

Luna Rossa withdrew from the last America's Cup in March 2015 in protest at sweeping changes to protocol mid-cycle which were implemented by then holders Oracle Team USA.

They continued to support Team NZ, loaning them their test boat and providing technical staff, including skipper Max Sirena.

The move helped the cash-strapped Kiwis with their successful development programme and kept the Italians in the game.

Foiling catamarans have featured at the last two America's Cup.

Luna Rossa, under the Circolo della Vela Sicilia yacht club, were signed up as the Challenger of Record within minutes of Team New Zealand beating Oracle in this year's Cup match in Bermuda in late June.

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