The International C-Class Catamaran Championship, nicknamed the Little America’s Cup, is to be held in September 2013 in Falmouth,, UK. Two catamarans bearing the Hydros livery will take part under the Swiss flag. The high-tech catamarans are 7.62m long and topped by a state-of-the-art wing mast.

The first catamaran, currently under construction at the Décision SA shipyard, will be crewed by Billy Besson and Jérémie Lagarrigue, who is also the overall head of the Hydros project. Both Besson and Lagarrigue are specialists in top-level multihull racing. Besson, who will be at the helm of the Hydros catamaran, is one of the world's leading experts in sports multihulls and is regularly involved with the Multi One Design, Decision 35 and Formula 18 classes. As for Jérémie Lagarrigue, the overall head of the Hydros project, he has won multiple medals in the Formula 18 class at French, European and World Championships. He has done a lot of sailing with Franck Cammas, and in particular contested the last Little America's Cup on board Patient Lady VI.

The crew of the second Swiss boat has yet to be decided. It will be selected by Daniel Schmaeh, the helmsman and skipper of l’Hydroptère.ch. Candidates will initially be preselected on the basis of their presentation dossiers, with the best then invited to undertake a navigation test and demonstrate their sporting and social skills. 'We are looking for top-class sailors who are capable of helping us win the Little America's Cup,' said Daniel Schmaeh. 'Candidates will not only need to be capable of winning races, but must also contribute to the technical development of our two catamarans and fit into the current team.'

The first catamaran will be launched on November 30, 2012, with the second following in January 2013. Intensive training is planned from this winter in the United Arab Emirates.

Источник:
http://www.sail-world.com