Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.3

America's Cup- Hinged foils approved by Measurement Committee

by Richard Gladwell on 13 Sep 2012
Artemis Racing unloading in San Francisco with the daggerboard aperture visible below the mainbeam Sander van der Borch / Artemis Racing http://www.sandervanderborch.com

While the sailing world is still coming to terms with the concept of seeing 72ft America's Cup catamarans charging at 30kts plus, while fully out of the water on foils, the design teams are several steps further down the path.

So far only one style of foil has been seen - an S-shaped dagger board with a tip at right angles to the main part of the board, however a new type of hinged foil has been approved.

New diagrams released in a public interpretation by the Measurement Committee for the 34th America's Cup, show that a second style of foil could be used - and would be legal under the class rules.

The new foil style is similar to that seen on the high performance French trimaran, l'Hydroptere which at one stage was the world speed record holder with a run of over 50kts.

But instead of being contained within the hull of the AC72, as with the daggerboards seen so far, the new board is external and is just attached to the hull by a bearing, and supported by an external strut.

When raised it comes completely clear of the water.


The overall concept is within the maximum 7 metre length permitted for daggerboards by the America's Cup Class Rule.

Two options were put to the Measurement Committee for interpretation, one shows an external support, the second shows an internal control on the daggerboard similar to a canting heel.

In the decision dated September 6, 2012 Nick Nicholson, Chairman of the Measurement Committee stated: 'Nothing in the AC72 Class Rule explicitly prohibits the daggerboard concept shown in Figures 1a and 1b, provided the constraints of Rule 9 (Daggerboards) are met and the daggerboard and its installation otherwise comply with the limits and requirements of the Class Rule.'


In a second string to its decision the Committee stated the same phraseology in response to the second concept.

In the America's Cup, there has been a long standing practice where a team can submit an idea for interpretation as to its legality by the Measurement Committee or International Jury - even though the matter may be hypothetical. The reason for the practice is that it avoids later measurement protests, which at that stage are acrimonious and avoidable with this advance warning procedure.

Once the interpretations are usually made public so that other teams can see them, and can make their design decisions accordingly.

It is not known which team has lodged the interpretation request. Both the two sailing AC72's seen to date have through hull daggerboards. Although Artemis has not been sailing the aperture for the daggerboard can be seen in one of her hulls as she was unloaded in San Francisco. Whether that is an aperture for a push-through daggerboard, or a location for a hinged foil remains to be seen. She also has what appears to be a sanded piece of hull topside above the daggerboard aperture.






Switch One DesignNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastBoat Books Australia FOOTER

Related Articles

WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Queensland Yachting Survey 2025 Feedback
The results are in, gathering valuable insights directly from the sailing community Following this year's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a group of passionate and experienced individuals from the sailing community gathered to discuss the current state of yachting in Queensland.
Posted today at 5:18 am
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul
America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup.
Posted on 10 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Big breeze in the morning, calm in the afternoon The third day of racing at the 2025 Moth World Championship kicked off early, with the first warning signal for the Blue fleet scheduled for 8:30 AM. Due to strong northerly winds, however, the fleet's departure was postponed to 9:00.
Posted on 10 Jul
Introducing the Micro Gateway from Cyclops Marine
Live load data, simplified - smaller, smarter, even more connected At Cyclops Marine, we're driven by the pursuit of precision, performance, and progress. As the marine industry continues to embrace digital transformation, our technology is evolving rapidly.
Posted on 10 Jul
Everything to know about The Ocean Race Europe
One month to go to the race start in Kiel One month out from the start of the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe seven mixed-gender crews made up of sailors from across 13 nations are in the throes of their final preparations for the Race start in Kiel, Germany.
Posted on 10 Jul