The next America’s Cup will be contested in a new design of America’s Cup class boat. The new class will be 90ft LOA, draw 6.5m (21ft 4in) with a lifting keel that will reduce the draft to 4m (13ft 1in) to allow the boats access to ports.

At the announcement of the new class and the Protocol for the 33rd America’s Cup, specific details have yet to be revealed but the boat is expected to be sailed by 20-21 crew and each team will most likely only be able to build one boat.

“Everybody seems to want a new boat, bigger, more exciting and difficult to sail,” said Alinghi’s skipper Brad Butterworth. “The rule will be like a box rule and encourage designers to come up with innovative new ideas. The America’s Cup is a design contest and a technology race. That’s the way the Cup’s always been and we’re going to keep it that way.”

The venue for the event itself, for which there are several candidates, will be decided by 31 Dec 2007. If the event is Valencia the next Cup could be in 2009, if not the series could be either in 2010 or 2011.

More details and analysis to follow, including a YW special podcast on the announcement.