A new pan-European fleet racing competition in 40ft America’s Cup lookalike yachts is being planned by EuropeSailing Corporation, an organisation based in Italy claiming it will have more than 70 of the ?89,000 day sailers in the water by 2011.
The initiative is being led by Tom Gozdecky who has commissioned Marco Lostuzzi to design the yacht.

Built using a resin infusion technique the Twelve-OD is 12m long and completely open, much as an AC boat, with no accommodation. A Hall Spars carbon mast, Navtec rigging, Harken deckgear and other quality kit completes the package with the 3000kg yacht designed to be transported by road.

Gozdecky told yachtingworld.com that pan-European fleet regattas are being planned with 10 24-boat grand prix events sailing for the Europe Sailing Cup. Keeping cost down and crew to a maximum of five make the Twelve-OD accessible, claims Gozdecky, who believes many yachtsmen want to get behind the wheel of a yacht that looks and feels like BMW Oracle or Alinghi!

See the April issue of Yachting World, out in early March for fuller details