Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

America's Cup: Designed to fly

by America's Cup 3 Aug 2020 16:15 AEST
America's Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand © Emirates Team New Zealand

It was August 2012 when the sailing world was turned upside down by a 72-foot catamaran flying in the Hauraki Gulf. Emirates Team New Zealand had brought foiling to the America's Cup and changed the face of top-level yacht racing forever.

Since then the increase in performance for America's Cup boats has been greater than at any point in the 170-year history of the event.

Six years later, in 2018, the publication of the AC75 Class rule marked the beginning of a new sailing era. Nowadays foils are commonplace, but the engineering and sailing techniques needed to get the AC75 to fly are completely different from anything seen before.

To start with, the AC75 is big - 75-feet long and 16-feet wide - but, it's also light, which is crucial, because the AC75 is designed to fly. It's also different - rather than a keel, a brand new concept keeps it standing. Foil Cant Arms move under, or outside, the boat to provide the leverage it needs to stay upright.

Some parts of the boat are supplied or specified - the mast tube, rigging, foil-cant arms and their hydraulics are all stock components. But, there are still plenty of areas that designers can experiment with to find a race-winning edge.

A new evolution this America's Cup is the twin-skin mainsail. The double-sail skins combine with the spar to form a wing, generating the power the AC75 needs to foil.

Underwater is where things get really interesting this America's Cup, but the story starts inside the boat. The foil cant system is brand new technology, a battery-driven hydraulic power-unit that supplies the energy to lift and lower the immensely strong, and heavy foil cant arms.

As the boat swaps tacks, the cant system is activated, placing one hydrofoil in the water, and lifting the other one out, where its weight becomes ballast.

At the end of the arms lie the teams' secret weapons - the foil wings. Apart from basic rules governing dimensions and weight, these are open territory for designers.

With the launch of the second generation of AC75s just around the corner, a lot can change from what we have seen so far...

For more information visit www.americascup.com.

Related Articles

America's Cup: Dalton pushes back on Swiss claims
More to Swiss withdrawal than disagreements over the draft Protocol says Dalton. Grant Dalton: "It has been somewhat obvious for some time that they have been struggling to recover from their lack lustre performance in Barcelona last October and give themselves an ‘on water' opportunity to win in AC38." Posted on 20 Apr
America's Cup: Alinghi confirm exit and wind-down
"We have not been able to find agreement with the Defender of the America's Cup" Twice America's Cup winner Alinghi has issued a statement saying they will not enter the 38th America's Cup, after taking issue with some measures in the draft Protocol. Team members were told last week. A media statement was issued Saturday afternoon. Posted on 19 Apr
Cup Spy: Kiwis make another tough call
The split between Peter Burling and Emirates Team NZ wasn't seen coming outside the team Todays's announcement of a split in the long relationship with Emirates Team NZ and its skipper, three times Cup winner Peter Burling wasn't seen coming outside the team, although rumours had been circulating on the Auckland waterfront for a month or two. Posted on 11 Apr
America's Cup: Burling leaves Team NZ
Emirates Team New Zealand and Peter Burling have today confirmed that they have agreed to part ways Emirates Team New Zealand and Peter Burling have today confirmed that they have agreed to part ways ahead of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 11 Apr
America's Cup: Proposed Cup changes
Several parties associated with the America's Cup have talked of radical changes coming. Loose-lipped UK parties associated with the America's Cup have revealed radical changes being mooted for the way the America's Cup is to be organised for future events. But will they gain gained traction, this time? A lot has changed in 20years. Posted on 8 Apr
NZ Govt turns back on last Cup hosting opportunity
Business leaders and commentators are quick to criticise NZ Government's lack of foresight. The NZ Coalition Government decision to walk away from hosting of the 38th America's hadsreceived criticism from City leaders. With changes mooted in the Cup along F1 lines, Cup hosting will move out of the reach of the always cash-strapped Kiwi nation. Posted on 1 Apr
America's Cup set to return to the USA
President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed that the next will be held at his private club, Mar-a-Lago. President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed that the next America's Cup, the prestigious sailing competition dating back to 1851, will be held at his private club, Mar-a-Lago. Posted on 31 Mar
America's Cup NZ Govt declines to fund Auckland
Emirates Team NZ have confirmed that NZ Government has refused funding for the 38th America's Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand has confirmed that MBIE and Central Government have decided not to back the 38th America's Cup hosting in Auckland. Naples and Athens tipped as venues by European media. Posted on 31 Mar
Cup Spy: Has the Cup already flown?
Despite Auckland Council's best efforts to secure the Hosting, is the Cup again headed offshore? An America's Cup spoor trail of NZ governmental droppings and footprints indicates that despite Auckland Council's best efforts to secure the Hosting, the event is again headed to the Never-Land of an offshore location. Posted on 30 Mar
Three times America's Cup winner passes away
Matt Mitchell won three America's Cup sailing for teams representing three nations. There wasn't a boat Matt Mitchell couldn't race or a challenge he wasn't up for. And, say those closest to the America's Cup star and grassroots sailing champion, no one was spared his good-hearted quips. Posted on 25 Mar
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERB&G Zeus SR AUSSelden 2020 - FOOTER