THE SIDELINES : French Launch New Cup Yacht

A French syndicate launched the first of the new generation America’s Cup Class yacht that will replace the venerable 12-meter boat in the prestigious event, it was announced today.

America’s Cup France said in a release that F-1 would be used on shakedown and research cruises at a training base in Sete in the south of France. “The F-1 is an experimental boat that will be used as a testing ground for future French projects,” the release said.

The America’s Cup Class was agreed upon in 1988 during the bitter clash between the American catamaran and New Zealand’s huge mono-hull. Development of the class has been slowed by a court battle over the legality of the catamaran. The state Court of Appeals in Albany, N.Y., is scheduled to hear final oral arguments on the issue next week.