Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team launch prototype yacht - LEQ12 - October 13, 2022 Cagliari, Sardinia © Ivo Rovira / America'sCup
In a departure from their AC75 Version 1, which was the Challenger for the 2021 America's Cup, the Italians appear to have taken the opportunity to borrow heavily from their competitor design in the 36th America's Cup sailed in Auckland.
While the visual emphasis, at this stage, is on the hull, most AC72 designers say that it's purpose is just an end plate between the rig and water surface. The real test is how the rig and other components all work together, and how quickly the Surrogate yacht can lift onto its foils in light winds.
By taking the design approach they have with their LEQ12, the Italians should get valuable comparative data between the Kiwi boat from 2021 and their own Challenger - which won three races in the America's Cup Match.