Burling says non-foiling is a step backwards
35th America’s Cup 2017
America’s Cup winning helmsman Peter Burling hopes Team New Zealand persist with foiling catamarans for the next America’s Cup.
The new holders will unveil their protocols for the Cup in September where the venue, design type and nationality clause will be finalised.
There has been talk the cup could return to more traditional monohulls, but Burling wants to race in something fast.
Burling has told Radio Sport that he’s confident Team New Zealand will come up with a class for America’s Cup 36 that will advance the event.
“I’m happy as long as it goes fast. It would be a bit of a shame to take a step backwards in terms of the speeds the boats can generate. I’m pretty sure we can come up with a rule that can keep pushing that forward,” Burling said.
Burling is also a fan of a bigger nationality clause.
“This time we had a very small nationality clause but definitely for me it seems like something that has got to be as part of the America’s Cup.
“It is a friendly competition between nations and the Deed of Gift is a big part of it. I’m in favour of the nationality clause but I’m not too sure how harsh it’s going to be yet, as to what percentage it breaks out at, but it’s all part of the fun and games over the next little while.”
