OPINION
Words by Mark Orr
Opinion...
Anyone who loves our sport and in particular enjoys racing will have been saddened
by the protracted arguments between BMW Oracle and Alinghi owners Larry Ellison
and Ernesto Bertarelli respectively about the future of this great competition. Whilst
the argument has a legal base it seems that it all comes down to money and control.
It is a shame that an event which produced such close racing and attracted massive
sponsorship revenue could be dragged through the courts with the competition stalled
for so long.
resolution appears the have successful this class has become. The 2009
their own one design class could move
A
been reached as a result of season kicks off in Venice in mid May.
the centre of multihull racing to the Middle
the final court hearing and we
East – the sport may follow the money. If
seem to be headed for a race Organisers of this are OC Events and they
it does let us hope that firm management
between the two in massive multihulls are hoping to launch a second one design
will ensure the sailing and not the lawyers
by February 2010 that will be a joy to all circuit based on the Arabian 100 trimaran
are centre stage.
of our readers. which is built in Australia and assembled
in a purpose built facility Oman. The Arab There is a vacuum to fill and maybe this is
Whilst legal arguments have been states have long shown enthusiasm for
it. We have lost the ORMA 60 multihulls,
proceeding the recent Louis Vitton sailing as it is part of their heritage a traders.
the attempts to start a one design World
Pacific series shows the enthusiasm for Recently they have gone racing with Oman
Sailing League in 70ft cats did not take
the America’s Cup class to succeed. It (Oman Sail), Bahrain (Bahrain Team Pindar),
off. If this combination of a powerful
is therefore likely that once the Multihull Dubai (Team Aqua) all directly involved. The
crewed offshore and ocean capable boat
challenge is concluded a traditional multi recent Middle East Extreme 40 event was
that can race around the buoys as well
challenger event in monohulls seems to well received. The prospects of four or five
as round the world may get the bucks
BONEFISH
be on the cards. Lets hope that the legal of these powerful 100 ft trimarans racing as
and being a one design costs can be
arguments are over and racing on water can
controlled. We would love that!
NEW DESIGNS
begin.
PRODUCT NEWS
One series where the boats and sailors
do the talking is the iShares Cup which
BOOK REVIEWS
is going from strength to strength. The
combination of fast and snappy racing,
RACING NEWS
close to the crowds, in dramatic one design
boats that are often sailed on the edge of
CLASSIFIEDS
control seems to have caught the public’s
imagination. The boats are all packaged into
containers and the circuit goes from event
to event, unpacks, sets up, trains and then
races ten races over two intense days. Each
Multihull Review - ISSN 1757 – 8388
race lasts half an hour over a short course
Published by and editorial enquires to: Multihull Review, Regus House, Southampton International close to the crowds. Boat handling, quick
Business Park, George Curl Way, Southampton, SO18 2RZ, UK.
crew work and a cool head are required
Telephone: +44 (0) 2380 302028
to survive the intensity of each race. The
Editor:
racing is very close with the lead changing
several times in any race but the first past
the post result means that the crowds can
follow the racing and enjoy the drama. In
2006 the class grew to eight boats, last
year at one stage twelve teams including
three America’s Cup teams took part, this
year there will be ten to twelve teams with
more at some event. It is great to see how
MAY 2009 : MULTIHULL REVIEW 3
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