Oracle mulling use of multihulls for next race

The next edition of the America's Cup could be held in monohulls or multihulls as both options are still under consideration, defending champions Oracle said.

The final decision will be announced by September 30 following a meeting in Valencia of 19 top yacht designers.

The world's most prestigious yachting race traditionally uses monohulls but the last edition held off the coast of Valencia in February was a multihull duel between Oracle and Switzerland's Alinghi.

The experts discussed the possibility of designing new multihulls with an overall length of either 20 or 25 metres and a monohull of up to 27 metres.

They are slightly more in favour of the monohull designs but a source close to Oracle told AFP that the "issue is still under study".

The last America's Cup in Valencia "opened their eyes" to the potential of multihulls and the goal is to have new boats that are "more exciting and faster", the source said after the meeting in Valencia.

The 34th America's Cup will be held in either 2013 or 2014 at a yet to be determined site that should be announced by the end of the year.

San Francisco on the west coast of the United States, where the Golden Gate Yacht Club which Oracle represents is based, remains the favourite but other options are under consideration, including in Europe.