America's Cup experience reaches public domain

By Paul Virgo

ROME (Reuters) - If the America's Cup is the Formula One of sailing, then Russell Coutts is giving enthusiasts the chance to sample being the equivalent of Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso.

The New Zealander has created a new class, RC 44, designed to take amateurs up close and personal with the experience of competing in sailing's most prestigious event.

"It's a new concept that combines many of the sport's different elements into one format," Coutts told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"It basically gives people the chance to experience America's Cup racing in a simpler format. And they seem to enjoy it."

Coutts was speaking at the end of the maiden season of the RC 44 Championship Tour in which amateur yacht owners raced alongside, and against, America's Cup big guns such as himself, James Spithill and Dean Barker.

The eight regattas are made up of fleet races with the owners at the helm and one-on-one match races when the pro skippers call the shots.

"The owners can only have four professionals on their team in the fleet racing," explained the three-times America's Cup-winning skipper and Olympic gold medalist. "Then we drive in the match racing, so they can see and learn from us."

SINGLE-DESIGN BOAT

All the teams use a single-design boat, created by engineering graduate Coutts and naval architect Andrej Justin.

"We wanted to include a degree of complexity so an owner can experience what a top-end race boat is like to sail," said Coutts.

"I like to drive nice cars and it's like that. It is like giving people the chance to drive a high-performance sports car.

"Having amateur owners aboard adds a dimension. It works in a similar way to a Pro-Am golf tournament and that's why it's a good format."

Teams from Italy, Croatia, Japan, Slovenia, Dubai, Portugal, Poland, China and Ireland took part in the 2007 RC 44 Championship Tour.

Organizers' expect new crews to join the class in 2008.

"It's a really nice experience and very tough," said Italian businessman Armando Giulietti, the owner behind the Hiroshi-Citta di Milano team.