Alinghi will take to the water in catamarans in preparation for a possible duel using multi-hulls with US challenger Oracle.

Alinghi would prefer to defend their America's Cup title in a conventional multi-boat regatta but the Swiss syndicate is preparing itself for a multi-hull face-off against Oracle.

The format of the 33rd America's Cup challenge is subject to an imminent ruling by a New York Court with the catamaran option regarded as the most likely outcome to the protracted legal battle between Alinghi and Oracle.

Oracle is seeking a catamaran duel with Alinghi in October, whereas Alinghi are angling for a conventional regatta in Valencia to ber staged no sooner than 2009. Oracle have already started training using a multi-hull designed by French naval architects for several weeks off the Valencia coast.

After Alinghi's successful defence of the yachting crown here in July the America's Cup not for the first time in its long history hit crisis mode after the Swiss boat's contentious rewriting of the rule book and their naming of Spanish boat Desafio as the official challenger of record.