The future is multi-hull, says Spithill

James Spithill, The America's Cup winning skipper, says that multihull sailing is the future of sail racing at the highest level.

In a robust presentation at the annual World Yacht Racing conference in Estoril, Portugal, he argued that multi-hull racing was a more exciting spectacle for competitors and spectators with more overtaking opportunities, more demanding boats, more interest from young aspirants, and more interest from potential sponsors and media.

Spithill has a point, however unpalatable it may be for the thousands of sailors who happily race mono-hulls week-in, week-out. But it was nevertheless hard to take after the debacle that characterised the lead up to the 33rd America's cup in February.

"Blazers and polo shirts belong to history," he said. "Today's racing will see athletes pushed to the limits of physical exhaustion."

He called for a radical shake-up of race rules throughout the sport to end the confusing practice of protest hearings that can overturn results on the water. "Sailors and fans of sailing should never have to come off the water and see the results changed. If there is one thing I hate seeing on a result sheet it's the words 'provisional' or 'subject to protest.'"

He promised that the bad old days of the America's Cup with off-the-water squabbles fought out in the courts, were over in new reforms. The reforms, he said, would ensure continuity and sustainability of the event through an independent dispute resolution procedure, a "youth America's Cup" to prepare new talent and better media coverage through on board cameras and microphones. "The future is multi-hull," he said.