Efforts to inject new life into the world's oldest sporting contest, the America's Cup will start in Valencia next week with television trials to determine whether audiences are more captivated by monohull racing or multihull action.

America's Cup holders BMW Oracle will stage a series of trials over four days to assess the media impact both online and on TV, of different types of vessels. The format of racing will also be scrutinised following criticism in recent years that overtaking opportunities on the racetrack have been severely limited.

"We are testing many different concepts," said Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW Oracle Racing Team.

"Would making the first leg downwind instead of upwind be better? Can you have exciting boat-on-boat action with multihulls? Are there alternative racecourse formats which might provide more overtaking opportunities?"

Read the full story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/sailing/7895303/Americas-Cup-to-...