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Featured Stories | August 26, 2013

Inside the fastest boats in america’s cup history with mit meche.

By Genevieve Wanucha

“….It’s a clean start!” the America’s Cup commentator shouted yesterday . “And the Kiwis take the lead!” Two sailboats blasted through a foggy San Francisco Bay, dueling for a chance to race against the defending champion Oracle Team USA. Minutes later, Emirates Team New Zealand sailed to victory past Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge, and now wait to confront their formidable rival in the finals on September 7.

The America’s Cup is the world’s oldest sporting trophy, backed by 162 years of sailing tradition. This year’s motto hints of something new: ‘Best Sailors. Fastest Boats.’ After winning the last cup in Valencia, Spain, in 2010, Larry Ellison, the billionaire entrepreneur and the owner of Oracle Team USA, pushed to reinvent the competition into a spectacular television-friendly event. He got his way—big time. The 2013 America’s Cup is now taking place much closer to the shore, within view of cheering spectators, music concerts, and grandstands. The biggest change is the newfangled boat design.

The new yacht, called the AC72 (America’s Cup 72 class), is unlike any sailboat that’s ever raced in an America’s Cup. The 72-foot-long, wing-sailed catamaran can travel more than twice as fast as the boats that competed in 2010. When the slick carbon-fiber crafts really get going, both hulls levitate out of the water and begin to fly over the surface on retractable underwater appendages called hydrofoils. The decrease in drag during foiling mode can boost the yacht’s speed past 45 knots, or 52 miles per hour. “It’s surreal,” says Team New Zealand’s wing trimmer Glenn Ashby.

Several professors in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering , experts in naval architecture, marine hydrodynamics, and fluid mechanics, know a thing or two about sailboat design. Some have led the design of past U.S. America’s Cup boats. And they say that these AC72s have sailed straight into a new frontier in advanced marine technology. So, Oceans at MIT invited professors Doug Hart , Paul Sclavounos , and Jerome Milgram to answer a few questions about the fastest yachts in America’s Cup history. Knowing what they know will change the way you watch the race.

What makes the AC72 catamarans so fast and unique?

“In order to counter the side force generated by the sails, boats must have a wing shape below the water that generates a force in the opposite direction. Catamarans use long thin rudders and hydrofoils near the center of the hull called daggerboards. The AC72’s are unique in that they have rudders and daggerboards designed to push up on the hulls and lift them out of the water while, at the same time, countering the sideways force of the sails.

In addition, AC72s use “wing” sails rather than the typical canvas sails you see on most sailboats. These are structures built very much like the wings of an airplane.  They are “monocoque”-type structures, which means that part of the load is carried by the outer skin. This support allows the sails to be very thin and ridged. This design provides a means of controlling and optimizing the shape of the sails in ways that traditional canvas sails can not be controlled or optimized.

Finally, as with all catamarans, the hulls are long and thin. The force on the sails acting to flip the boat is countered by the weight of the crew and the weight of the part of the boat that is upwind of the sail. The two hulls of catamarans can be separated by considerable distances providing significant leverage against flipping. The long thin hulls also generate little wave drag (drag caused by the generation of waves by the boat itself) and help to pierce oncoming ocean waves rather than slamming into them and decelerating the boat.”

Designing innovative yachts must involve a great amount of fluid mechanics or marine hydrodynamics. What specific research areas are critical for this kind of sailboat design?

Paul Sclavounos, MIT PhD ’81, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture. Interests: Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine & Mechanical Engineering. Professor Sclavounos has been a design contributor to three America’s Cup syndicates.

“The design of the new AC72 boats is a complex process lying at the intersection of a number of disciplines; marine hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, structural mechanics, advanced composites, and optimization theory. Of these disciplines the ones that are critical for the design of AC72 boats are marine hydrodynamics, aerodynamics and carbon fiber composites. The fluid dynamics involved in the design of the AC72 boat may now he handled reliably by computer programs that solve the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes Equations reducing the need for extensive tank and wind tunnel testing.”

Jerome Milgram , MIT PhD ’65, Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering, William I. Koch Professor of Marine Technology, Emeritus. Professor Milgram has been a design contributor to more than eight America’s Cup syndicates.

“For the hydrofoil boats, called foilers, the fluid mechanics of lift is paramount. It differs from the lift of airplanes in that there is a free surface (water) very close to the foils, whereas an airplane lifts in nearly an infinite fluid (air). Lift in the presence of a free surface is the new field of fluid mechanics for foiling boats. In an ordinary boat, there is lift in the form of side force generated to counterbalance the side force of the sails. However, most of the lifting surface of an ordinary sailboat (the downward-projecting centerboard ) is further from the free surface than is the case with a foiler, on which most of the underwater appendage is horizontal and close to the free surface. (See this video: Hydrofoils: Flying on Water )

The new AC boats have rigid wings instead of fabric sails. Their elliptical leading edges can have a suction force on them, which cancels out much of the drag. Thus, the drag coefficient of a rigid wing can be much lower than the drag coefficient of a sail. Furthermore, rigid wings can withstand small areas of pressure difference reversal that would cause an ordinary sail to luff, or flap. This increases in the amount of available control of the lift distribution.”

“Sailing yacht design is extremely complex. Sailboats are anything but simple – generally far more complex then airplanes. They are a balance of compromises between rules governing their construction, structural properties of the materials they are made from, wind and water forces, crew safety, and the controls needed to operate them. While a tremendous amount of modern technology and numerical modeling goes into the designs of these yachts, much of their design is based on practical experience, experimentation, and trial and error. Sailboat races are often won by fractions of a percent difference in overall speed. These differences can be the result of the ability to out maneuver the other boat, point slightly higher into the wind or any number of other factors. Such tiny differences are very difficult to account for by simple numerical modeling thus, yacht design is still very much an art.”

Are there any downsides to this AC design?

Jerome Milgram:

The interaction of a high speed boat with waves is different than the wave interaction of an ordinary low speed boat. When an AC boat traveling at high speeds has its bow hit a wave, the wave can cause an instantaneous increase in drag, slowing the boat with the air wing force and the inertial force of the boat slowing down can cause the boat to pitch pole. Unfortunately, there has been one death due to this kind of inertial and hydrodynamic interaction between the boat and sea waves.

There is some criticism of this departure from tradition and of the increased danger associated with the new design. But, others are excited to see this as more of a spectator sport and demonstration of futuristic technology. What is your personal reaction to this sea change in the America’s Cup?

Paul Sclavounos:

“There is a long and illustrious history of Americas’ Cup mono-hull yachts and many are nostalgic of this tradition. The innovations introduced under the IACC rule have led to outstanding boats that had almost exhausted every corner of the rule, leading to margins of victory often less than a minute for a three-hour race. The new Americas’ Cup rule represents an evolution that is, in a sense, a consequence of the maturity of the designs developed under the previous rule.

The design of the AC72 yachts draws upon advanced marine technologies, e.g. computational fluid dynamics and advanced composites, increasingly used for the design of other marine structures, e.g. fuel-efficient ships, composite mooring systems for offshore platforms and multi-megawatt offshore wind turbines. As has been the case in the past, the races of new AC72 boats will be exciting, and they stand to raise an awareness of the importance of technology in the design of advanced marine vehicles. As to the dangers associated with the new design, it is a risk that is hopefully small yet to a certain degree inevitable given that a new frontier in yachting is being explored.”

“I see both sides of this issue and each has merit. The boats do depart from tradition and are certainly dangerous, but they have the thrill of very high speed. I would not personally get on one of these boats. I have too much sense for that. Others see it differently.”

“While safety is certainly a major concern, as an engineer, I find these new yacht designs extremely exciting. My own feeling is that the America’s Cup races became too bogged down in rules and lost sight of what made them exciting. I hope these new yachts spark people’s imagination and usher in a new generation of young sailing enthusiasts.”

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

World’s coolest yachts: IACC America’s Cup yachts

• December 1, 2021

We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times. Olympic gold medalist and America's Cup sailor, Tom Slingsby, picks the IACC America's Cup yachts

“I was obsessed with the Version 5 America’s Cup boats back in the early 2000s, I used to sit there and stare at the TV,” recalls 2021 World Sailor of the Year, Tom Slingsby.

Version 5.0 of the IACC America’s Cup yachts rule was issued in 2003 and governed the boats that were used for the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia in 2007, the last Cup to use the IACC rule.

The boats were lighter, faster, and carried more sail area with a deeper draught keel. Eleven Challengers raced from nine countries, including fleet racing in a series of Acts. The 32nd Cup was successfully defended by Alinghi .

The perfect blend of technology and beauty Photo: Domenico Stinellis/AFP/Getty

Each IACC yacht raced with a crew of 17, with a guest 18th man spot. “I was extremely fortunate. I was able to be the 18th person and the guest on one of the Oracle boats in 2007,” recalls Slingsby.

“For me, those things are just the perfect blend of technology, beauty, and as a tactical sort of boat I think they were beautiful to watch.”

Make sure you check out our full list of Coolest Yachts.

IACC America’s Cup yachts stats rating:

Top speed: 19 knots LOA: 82ft/25m Launched: 2004 Berths: 0 Price: £50m Adrenaline factor: 80%

Tom Slingsby

Australian Tom Slingsby is one of the most successful sailors on the water today.

He won Olympic Gold at the 2012 Games in the Laser , was strategist for Oracle Team USA in their 34th America’s Cup win , and recently took his second foiling Moth Worlds victory.

Tom Slingsby is CEO and skipper of Australia SailGP team, leading the series heading into the Sydney final.

Pick up the January 2021 issue of Yachting World for a full interview with Tom Slingsby.

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Kiwis Reach Record Speed in AC 72-Foot Catamaran

By associated press • published july 18, 2013 • updated on july 19, 2013 at 7:52 am.

Emirates Team New Zealand has established a top speed for America's Cup 72-foot catamarans, hitting 44.15 knots, or 50.8 mph, on San Francisco Bay.   The Kiwis set the mark on the first reaching leg as they sailed alone around the course to collect another point in the Louis Vuitton Cup for challengers. The scheduled opponent, Artemis Racing, has yet to race as it works to get its second boat launched following the fatal capsize of its first boat on May 9.   The Kiwis' top speed on Thursday translates to 81.7 kilometers per hour or 74.5 feet per second. The wind speed on the leg peaked at 15.8 knots.   The team's previous best mark was 43.26 knots, or 49.78 mph, set July 9 in slightly stronger winds.   The cats generate their speed thanks to wing-shaped mainsails and hydrofoils that reduce drag.  

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New Zealand Sets Top Speed for America’s Cup 72-Foot Catamarans

By The Associated Press

• July 19, 2013

Emirates Team New Zealand set a top speed for America’s Cup 72-foot catamarans, hitting 44.15 knots, or 50.8 miles an hour, on San Francisco Bay. The Kiwis set the mark as they sailed alone to collect another point in the Louis Vuitton Cup for challengers. The scheduled opponent, Artemis Racing, has yet to race as it works to launch its second boat after the fatal capsize of its first boat, on May 9.

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Speed and Innovation in The America’s Cup

Get swept away in this awe-inspiring exhibit featuring the world's oldest international sporting competition.

About the exhibit:

Have you ever wanted to see a boat that can fly?

The America’s Cup isn’t just any run-of-the-mill yacht racing competition. Dating back to 1851, The America’s Cup has been the premier sailing event where the world’s top sailing teams battle it out on the water – putting their teamwork, athleticism, and engineering mettle to the test. In this exhibit, you can hear the story of one of the most notable moments in the history of the sport — Oracle Team USA’s victory in 2013 — an event dubbed “the greatest comeback in sports history!” 

Not only will you get the chance to hear this phenomenal story, you’ll also see the actual 72-foot catamaran that Team Oracle sailed to victory during that fateful race. Come witness the story, and find out what made these boats “fly” out of the water at speeds up to three times faster than the wind!

What to expect:

• Test your might and see if you have the endurance needed to be a member of an AC72 sailing crew.
• Get up close and personal with the AC72 that won the 2013 America’s Cup race, which is also the largest boat in our Collection.
• Watch boats “fly” – and learn how they do it.
• Touch sample materials from these engineering marvels, like carbon fiber and Clysar film.
• Walk on the same kind of netting that the crew members did.

Discover the objects related to this exhibit through our online catalog.

Explore More

When Did America Cup Change To Catamarans? (The History Behind It)

The America’s Cup has a long-standing and storied history of thrilling races since its inception in 1851.

But in the last decade, the competition has changed drastically with the switch from traditional monohull designs to the faster and more thrilling catamarans.

But why did the America’s Cup make this switch? What impact has it had on the competition and viewership? In this article, we’ll explore the history of the America’s Cup, the reasons why the switch to catamarans was made, and the changes that have occurred since then.

Keep reading to find out!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

The America’s Cup was first contested in 1851, and for many years it was sailed in monohulls.

In 1992, the America’s Cup changed to catamarans, and the first event to feature catamarans was the 1995 Americas Cup.

This change was largely due to the fact that catamarans are far faster than monohulls , and have the potential to be more exciting for viewers.

This change has been hugely popular and the America’s Cup continues to use catamarans today.

History of the America’s Cup

The America’s Cup, first held in 1851, is the oldest international sporting trophy in the world.

It has been a tradition that has spanned over a century and a half, and for much of that time the competition was held using monohulls, which had been the traditional sailing vessel design for centuries.

In 2013, however, the America’s Cup made a dramatic change and switched to catamarans, a move that was made to make the competition more exciting and to open up the competition to a wider range of teams and countries.

This switch was a significant moment in the history of the America’s Cup, and it has had a huge impact on the sport ever since.

The use of catamarans for the America’s Cup was something that had been discussed for some time before the switch was made, with many people arguing that the use of catamarans would create more exciting and competitive races.

Some argued that the use of catamarans would make the competition too dangerous, but this was eventually dismissed.

The switch to catamarans has been a major success, with the America’s Cup now featuring some of the most challenging and exciting races in sailing.

The use of catamarans has also made the competition more accessible to teams and countries from all over the world, with the competition now being open to teams from smaller countries that may not have had the resources to compete with monohulls.

The switch to catamarans has been an incredibly successful decision, and it has been a major moment in the history of the America’s Cup.

While the competition has always been a prestigious event, the switch to catamarans has made it even more exciting and has opened up the competition to a wider range of competitors.

Traditional Monohull Design

The traditional design of the Americas Cup, which has been used since 1851, has been the monohull.

Monohulls are boats with a single hull, which provides stability and strength in the water.

This design has been used for more than 150 years, and is well known for its classic look, durability, and performance.

Monohulls are typically larger and heavier than catamarans, which makes them slower and less maneuverable.

This made the Americas Cup a slower paced race that was more focused on strategy and tactics, rather than speed and agility.

This traditional design allowed a wide range of teams and countries to compete in the race, but the lack of speed and agility made it less exciting to watch.

Switch to Catamarans

The switch to catamarans for the America’s Cup was a major shift in the history of the event.

Catamarans, which have two hulls instead of one, offer a number of advantages over traditional monohulls.

Catamarans are faster , more maneuverable, and can handle a wider variety of wind conditions.

This makes them more exciting to watch and allows for more competitive racing.

The decision to switch to catamarans was made in 2013, after more than 150 years of using monohulls.

This switch opened up the competition to a wider range of teams and countries, as the catamarans require less crew members and the lighter hulls can be built more quickly and cheaply.

The change has been successful in terms of viewership, as the more exciting races have increased interest in the event.

It has also been successful in terms of the challenge for the competitors, as the catamarans require more skill and strategy to handle and race.

The America’s Cup now features some of the most challenging and exciting races in sailing.

Catamarans are faster than monohulls, and the competition is more intense as teams must continually adjust to changing wind conditions.

This has made the America’s Cup one of the most sought-after trophies in sailing.

The switch to catamarans has been a major shift in the history of the America’s Cup, and it has been successful in terms of viewership and competitiveness.

The event now features some of the most challenging and exciting races in sailing, and the lighter, faster catamarans have opened up the competition to a wider range of teams and countries.

Reasons for the Change

The reasons for the change to catamarans in 2013 for the America’s Cup were multifaceted.

On the one hand, it was done to make the competition more exciting and to open it up to a wider range of teams and countries.

The switch to catamarans brought a whole new level of challenge to the competition, as the boats are faster, more agile, and require different techniques to master.

In addition, the catamarans have a smaller crew size, which makes them more cost-effective to race and travel with.

Finally, the switch to catamarans was also done to accommodate venues with larger viewing areas, as the catamarans have a much larger wake and can be seen more easily from shore.

The shift to catamarans has been a huge success for the America’s Cup, both in terms of viewership and the challenge for the competitors.

The catamarans are now considered some of the most challenging and exciting races in sailing, and the competition has become more accessible to a wider range of teams and countries.

The change has also made the America’s Cup more exciting for viewers, as the races are faster and more thrilling than ever before.

The switch to catamarans has allowed the America’s Cup to remain one of the most renowned sailing competitions in the world.

Impact of Catamarans on the America’s Cup

The switch to catamarans for the America’s Cup has had a huge impact on the competition.

Not only has it made the races more exciting and challenging, but it has also opened up the competition to a wider range of teams and countries.

Catamarans are much more maneuverable than monohulls, allowing teams to make quicker, more precise turns and to take advantage of wind shifts.

This has allowed smaller, less experienced teams to challenge the bigger, more experienced teams.

In addition, the switch to catamarans has allowed for more diverse racing strategies.

With catamarans, teams can employ a wide range of tactics, from tacking and jibing to gybing and foiling.

This has allowed teams to be more creative and inventive with their race strategies, making the competition even more exciting.

Finally, the switch to catamarans has made the America’s Cup more accessible to viewers.

Catamarans are faster than monohulls, so races are shorter and viewers can get a better sense of the competition.

Additionally, the maneuverability of catamarans has made the races more spectacular and exciting to watch, bringing in more fans and spectators.

Overall, the switch to catamarans for the America’s Cup has been a success in terms of both viewership and the challenge for the competitors.

The switch has allowed for a wider range of teams to compete, more creative and diverse race strategies, and more excitement for viewers.

How the Change Has Affected Viewership

The Americas Cup is one of the most prestigious sailing events in the world, and its switch from traditional monohulls to catamarans has made it even more exciting and thrilling for viewers.

The fast speeds and close racing between competitors make for an action-packed spectacle that is unrivaled in the sailing world.

The move to catamarans has opened up the Americas Cup to a wider range of teams and countries, as well as to viewers from all over the world.

Since the switch, viewership has grown dramatically, with the Americas Cup now attracting some of the highest TV ratings in sailing and even surpassing other major sporting events in some countries.

The challenge of the Americas Cup has been taken to a whole new level, and viewers are now able to watch some of the most exciting and thrilling sailing races in history.

The move to catamarans has also brought a new level of excitement to the Americas Cup, with the boats being able to reach speeds of up to 50 knots.

The challenge of navigating these fast boats has made for some of the most intense and dramatic sailing races ever witnessed.

The change to catamarans has also allowed a wider variety of teams to compete in the Americas Cup, with teams from all over the world now able to take part in the event.

The switch to catamarans has brought a new level of excitement to the Americas Cup, and this has been reflected in the increased viewership and participation in the event.

The move has made the Americas Cup more thrilling and engaging than ever before, and it is clear that the switch to catamarans has been a successful one.

Challenges Faced by Competitors

Since its inception in 1851, the America’s Cup has been raced with monohulls, the traditional sailing vessel design that has been used for centuries.

This format posed a number of challenges for competitors, including limited maneuverability, greater risk of capsizing, and difficulty in reaching top speeds.

These issues made the competition more difficult for teams from outside the traditional sailing countries, which typically had more experience with monohulls.

The switch to catamarans was made to open up the competition to a wider range of teams and countries.

Catamarans are faster and more maneuverable than monohulls, making them the ideal vessel for the America’s Cup.

The catamarans also offer greater stability, reducing the risk of capsizing and allowing teams to reach higher speeds.

Additionally, the catamaran design is more affordable and easier to maintain, making it more accessible for teams of any size.

The switch to catamarans also presented a unique challenge for the competitors.

The catamaran design requires a different approach to sailing and tactics than the monohulls.

The catamarans are faster and more maneuverable, making the competition much more exciting and intense.

This challenge has pushed the competitors to become more creative and innovative with their strategies and tactics, making the America’s Cup one of the most challenging and exciting sailing competitions in the world.

Final Thoughts

The America’s Cup is a storied event that has been held since 1851.

While the traditional design was monohulls, the switch to catamarans in 2013 brought an exciting new dimension to the competition.

The change has been successful in terms of viewership and challenges faced by the competitors.

Now, the America’s Cup is one of the most thrilling sailing events in the world.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline-fueled experience, the America’s Cup is the perfect place to experience the thrill of competition.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Oracle Team USA reveals America's Cup racing boat

The Defender, Oracle Team USA, has revealed its America's Cup raceboat, which has been named 17 . The foiling catamaran measures 15 metres LOA and should be capable of a top speed of roughly 54 knots.

Speaking at the launch event, skipper and Boat International columnist Jimmy Spithill was in a typically confident mood, saying, "This is the boat we’re racing to win the America’s Cup. We need to get this boat out on the water and put the hours in getting it ready to race. The long days will continue."

More than 85,000 man hours of design and development have gone into 17 , including input from 15 designers and 50 boat builders. Airbus, BMW, Parker and Yanmar are among the technical partners who also contributed their expertise.

17 was built to America's Cup Class standards, which dictate the design of the hulls, crossbeams and wings. However, there is still significant room for each team to modify the rudders, daggerboards and internal systems to gain that all-important competitive advantage.

Grant Simmer, chief operating officer at Oracle Team USA, hailed the launch as a "major milestone" for the Defender. "These boats are highly-engineered, with complex systems, and built to perform under extreme conditions," he explained. "It’s a great achievement by our designers, builders and engineers to get us to this point where the race yacht gets handed over to the sailors.”

Oracle Team USA will race in Bermuda this summer as they attempt to retain the America's Cup, with the decisive match due to take place from June 17-27.

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Tim Newcomb

Data Supercharges Billion-Dollar Boats in the World’s Fastest Sailing Race

As billion-dollar catamarans skim across the ocean vying to best each other in the world's fastest sailing race, the win may not always go to the best sailors. Sometimes, a victory in the America's Cup goes to the team with the best data.

"This is as much a design race as a sailing race" says Mauricio Munoz, an engineer for the British Land Rover BAR team . Munoz's team is one of many in the 2017 America's Cup who used data collected during pre-Cup races to improve the designs of their boats. "Design without data, well I'm not sure what it is," Munoz says.

During these head-to-head races—where teams from around the globe sail as fast as 30 knots—even a half-knot gain in speed can be all that's needed to secure a victory. And since a tweak to a boat's design or to the crew's routine is often enough to earn it that extra brio in the water, the more data about the boat's performance that can be gathered, the better.

Thousands of sensors mounted all over the catamarans—from the tip of the sail to the hydrofoil under the boat—record every moment of action during a race, from boat speed and wind data to the various forces stressing the different sections of the craft. Teams can collect up to 16 gigabytes of data per day. In Land Rover's case, the team streams its data to a chase boat in real time. Later, a team back home in England virtually replays the day on the water, synchronizing video of the race with the sailing metrics. This analysis informs sailors of tactical advantages and gives engineers clues about how to build a better boat.

"This is a game all about being quick and being flexible and being able to spot things right when they happen and feed the info back to the coach, sailing team, and design team," says Munoz. Early in the Land Rover BAR's formation, the collected data helped inform the boat's design. As the race neared, the data offered strategic insight. The effort paid off: During the most recent America's Cup, held at the end of June in Bermuda, Land Rover BAR qualified for the challenger playoffs in its first-ever attempt before losing to the eventual 2017 champion, Emirates Team New Zealand.

Land Rover isn't the only team gobbling up metrics. Scott Ferguson, the design coordinator for Team USA Oracle , stays on the Oracle chase boat as a Wi-Fi system transmits data from the racing boat. Ferguson conducts real-time analysis on the chase boat before sending it to the shore for later study.

"As technology grows, we are getting more and more and better information," Ferguson says.

In addition to collecting data from hundreds of on-boat sensors, Oracle also captures video using GoPro cameras aimed at the rudders and boards. Pairing the video with data allows for an even deeper understanding of the numbers, Ferguson says.

In the case of Land Rover BAR, Munoz says the obscene amounts of data his team collected helped improve its catamaran design. In the year between the time the boat was built and the first America's Cup races, Munoz built computer models using data collected on the boat's top-performing days. What different strategies did the sailors take in certain wind conditions, and what speeds did they reach? What tactics proved fastest in key turns?

"Without saying too much, some of the (foils) you see fitted on the boat—the decision to make those and implement certain design decisions on those boards come from input form this particular research," Munoz says. "It is the same thing with the rudders."

After spending years crunching data to refine both the crew's tactics and the boat's design, Munoz says watching Land Rover BAR's on-water speed during the America's Cup was all worth it. "Seeing it out on the water and winning races as a first-time contender is definitely worth the sacrifice," he says. "Without this (data) we would never have been able to reach these conclusions."

Follow Tim Newcomb on Twitter at @tdnewcomb .

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Boat of the Week: Meet the ‘Patriot,’ the New Lightning-Fast America’s Cup Foiling Yacht Representing the US

After being airlifted 9,000 miles from the factory, the 45-foot sailing racer exceeded designers' initial expectations by zigzagging around the auckland waterfront at insane speeds., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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Patriot , the just-launched America’s Cup racing yacht representing the United States, completed its first week of sailing last week in New Zealand . The New York Yacht Club’s representative team, American Magic, tested the potential of a design that had only been proven by computer simulation. The 75-foot navy-hulled Patriot , which just days before had been shipped by cargo plane 9,000 miles from Rhode Island, streaked across the Auckland waterfront, zigzagging on its foils, videos suggesting it reached its “sound barrier,” or top speed, of an estimated 50 knots (America’s Cup teams don’t like to talk about top speeds), or 57 mph.

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“We went off the dock thinking that if the breeze filled in, we’d have a good sail,” Terry Hutchinson, skipper and executive director of American Magic, said after the sail. “Straight away, we came into 21 knots [of wind pressure], and we were into it. Despite having a brand-new boat that we were all excited about, the whole session felt normal. That’s a great validation of our shore team and all of the work put in since we launched the Mule in 2018.”

“The Mule” was the first prototype that American Magic built to train its crew on at its facility in Pensacola, Florida, and that basic design was followed by Defender , a more complex boat that has been decommissioned since Patriot ’s arrival. Like its competitors Lunna Rossa from Italy, Britannia from the UK and the America’s Cup defender, Te Aihe from New Zealand, American Magic won’t divulge technical details about Patriot , beyond the fact its steering station is more forward than on Defender .

Patriot performed her first week of tests in front of the Auckland waterfront recently, as her team learns the idiosyncrasies of the lightning-fast foiling yacht, and designers figure out how to tweak for maximum speed.  Courtesy Will Ricketson

The 75-footer is clearly fast, even out of the box, and for the next three months, designers and specialists will tweak the carbon-fiber hull and 1560-square-foot mainsail to make it even faster.

The world’s foremost sailing event, the America’s Cup has been around since 1851, though the last three Cups were more like Formula One racing, compared to the stately, slow-sailing monohulls of previous generations. The last three Cups have all been designed around foils, starting in 2013 with the AC72, and then three years ago, the boats became smaller, and much more nimble, 50-ft. catamarans that not only accelerated like an F-22 Raptor, but could nearly pivot on their own axis.

The last-generation cats were a bit too wild, so the powers that be came up with the current AC-72 class using a one-design rule where all competitors had to use common parts. The idea was to level the playing field. Organizers supply some parts of the boat, including the mast, rigging, foil-cant arms and hydraulics. The boats—16 feet wide with a crew of 11—are also built of lightweight composites because they’re designed to fly, rather than plough through the water.

While America’s Cup teams do not release top speeds, it’s estimated that the AC75 boats break the Cup’s “sound barrier” at about 50 knots, or 57 mph.  Courtesy Will Ricketson

Patriot ’s foil-cant arms are also designed to move both under or outside the boat to provide the leverage to keep it upright. If it does capsize, the crews can right the boat much easier than the previous generations of foiling racers. Another new evolution for this America’s Cup is the twin-skin mainsail on the 87-foot-tall mast. The double-sail skins combine with the spar to generate the power the AC75 needs to foil. On the last two generations, the sails were much stiffer sail-wings that many non-Cup racers complained about because there was no trickle-down technology for the rest of the sailing world.

Beneath the water, Patriot also has an interesting breakthrough design. The foil-cant system uses new technology that employs a battery-driven, hydraulic-power unit to raise and lower the strong, but very heavy, foil-cant arms, that give the boat its stability and speed. As the boat changes tacks, the cant system is activated, placing one hydrofoil in the water, and lifting the other one out, where its weight becomes ballast.

Beyond the sail plan and hull design, the foil wings at the end of the arms will be another of Patriot ’s secret weapons. American Magic designers will have the ability to create any design they believe will be most effective to give the boat an edge over competitors, and the next month will be devoted to trying new shapes and sizes.

Patriot was built in Bristol, Rhode Island, by a 50-strong team and then shipped by cargo plane 9,000 miles to Auckland.  Courtesy Will Ricketson

Considering the America’s Cup’s ambitious timetable, and the unexpected time pressures Covid-19 put on design and production of Patriot in Rhode Island, it’s amazing that this yacht came through so well. “This team didn’t exist three years ago, and now we have three boats built and two AC75s launched,” said Marcelino Botin, American Magic’s lead designer. “The first thing we need to focus on next is to make sure the new boat is sailed the way we want it to be sailed.”

Botin said this initial “analysis” phase will be critical to future modifications to the design. “We are all interested in knowing how the boat performs compared to our predictions and compared to our previous boat,” he says.

Hutchinson says that Patriot ’s initial performance was encouraging, especially on its first gybe. “We had a great nosedive, and that was exciting,” he said. “It was nothing that we haven’t seen or done on our other boats, and our familiarity with Patriot will increase rapidly over the coming days.”

The powerful foils allow Patriot to tack and jibe at high speeds, and to self-right if it capsizes.  Courtesy Will Ricketson

Helmsman Dean Barker described the boat’s performance as “lively.”

After the America’s Cup World Series and Christmas Cup from December 17 to December 20 will come the Prada Cup Challenger Selection Series, from January 15 through February 22, 2021, where Patriot will compete against Luna Rossa and Britannia II for the challenger title. The winner of that event will then compete against Emirates New Zealand for the America’s Cup, which runs from March 6 through 15, 2021.

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Published on January 25th, 2022 | by Editor

America’s Cup: The making of the AC40

Published on January 25th, 2022 by Editor -->

The Protocol of the 37th America’s Cup revealed that teams would compete again in the AC75 that was used for the 2021 event, but that a new AC40 one-design class would be used for testing and training as well as the preliminary regattas.

The intent is for there to be up to three Preliminary Regattas, with the first two raced in AC40s and the last one at the Match venue in AC75s. The AC40s would also be used for the Youth America’s Cup as there was in Bermuda in 2017, along with the first Women’s America’s Cup.

The New Zealand defender has taken on the development and production of the AC40 and offer this update from their Auckland base on January 26, 2022:

Just over 11 months since Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC75 ‘Te Rehutai’ crossed the finish line to claim the 36th America’s Cup, its younger sister class – the AC40 – is already in production.

While much of the world was having a well-earned break during the transition from 2021 into 2022 the 7 axis CNC machine at McConaghy Boats production facility was working 24/7 carving out the tooling for the hull of the new class.

The AC40 hull shape is based on that of Te Rehutai – but is already a generational step forward incorporating a number of developments learned after the completion of AC36 last year. In usual America’s Cup fashion, the AC40 design and production timeline has been highly condensed yet achievable due to a global collaboration led by Emirates Team New Zealand design team with Dan Bernasconi and Richard Meacham central to the management of the production process with Mark Evans Group Managing Director of McConaghy Boats.

“While the genesis of the AC40 project comes from the familiar design and innovation of the people within the Emirates Team New Zealand design department, we have really had to push the limits by utilizing a combination of the best of the New Zealand Marine industry as well as key offshore partnerships,” said Meacham.

“Specialized elements like the rigs are being built by Southern Spars and the boat building talent we have at the ETNZ build facility are producing the foil arms. We also have a great partnership utilizing the production power of an organization like McConaghy Boats in China for the hulls, decks, and fit out as well as North Sails Marine group with the aero package.”

McConaghy Boats has been building composite race boats with leading construction technologies for over 50 years across a range of classes from maxis like Wild Oats (the most successful yacht in the Sydney Hobart race), all the way down to foiling Mach 2 Moths and Waszps.

But for now the focus is firmly on rolling out the fleet of AC40s. “Currently there are already eight AC40s under order with McConaghy’s, with teams lined up awaiting possession,” said Meacham. “We have a world leading marine sector here in New Zealand, but like so many industries there are labor resource constraints, so without partnering with McConaghys and utilizing their production capabilities, we simply would not be able to fulfill the orders in time.”

The first AC40 is expected to be ready to be shipped from the McConaghy facility in July of this year to the Emirates Team New Zealand base in Auckland for its on water commissioning in August. And each successive boat will be rolled out in five week increments thereafter as the Challenging teams take possession and prepare to hit the water where the performance across with wind range is estimated to be quite exceptional for a 40-foot boat.

In light winds, the AC40 is expected to be able to sail at up to 26 knots at 46º upwind and 30 knots boat speed at 138º downwind. At the upper limits of 20 knots TWS, the boat speeds are expected to escalate to 39 knots upwind at 41º and 44 knots at an angle of 155º downwind.

Due to the AC40 being a ‘production boat’, the process has been a bit different to usual for Head of Design Dan Bernasconi: “Normally during the build of an AC boat, the design team has a bit more time to develop and finalize the hydraulics, electronics, and systems, but because the production process is so rapid in this case we have had to finalize a lot more of our designs in respect to those areas up front and make sure they are spot on.”

While the America’s Cup teams will be using their AC40s for testing, development, Match race training, and preliminary events, they will be used for both the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup’s as a key tool for creating the pathway into the America’s Cup for women and the next generation of foiling sailors. This pathway made all the easier with the added benefit of the availability of the AC40 simulator developed by Emirates Team New Zealand for pre- delivery training.

As a further step on from this, the AC40 and the simulator will be available to private owners, many of whom are the backbone of high-performance grand prix circuits already and could be looking for a new challenge in a dynamic boat that is right up there in terms of performance close to that of the AC75 America’s Cup powerhouses.

“There is even the possibility of private owners having a long-term ambition to race, but initially wanting to give a prospective Youth or Women’s AC crew a leg up with their campaigns by buying one early as well,” said Meacham

“So, despite the pressure of design and pushing this all along, it is exciting to see the moulds completed and production underway on a class of boat that will cover a wide range of use cases.”

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, the entry period opened December 1, 2021 and runs until July 31, 2022, but late entries for the 37th America’s Cup may be accepted until May 31, 2023. The Defender is to announce Match Venue and approximate event dates on March 31, 2022. – https://www.americascup.com/en/home

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AMERICA’S CUP ENTERS THE E-SPORTS ARENA WITH LAUNCH OF OFFICIAL GAME AND CHAMPIONSHIP

Watch America’s Cup sailors battle out for the first AC Sailing regatta

LIVE STREAMED ON TWITCH FROM BARCELONA AT 6:20 PM CET

LIVE STREAMED ON  TWITCH  FROM BARCELONA AT 6:20 PM CET

AC Sailing, the ultimate regatta simulator built on actual simulation technology used by America’s Cup teams, will be available for free download on Epic Store and Steam from today April 9 th , 19:00 CET

America’s Cup E-series will be the first e-sports league by the iconic sailing competition, attracting top virtual sailors from around the world to claim their place among America’s Cup legends.

Barcelona, 9th April 2024.- America’s Cup, the pinnacle of international yachting, is taking a leap into the virtual world with the launch of its official simulation videogame, AC Sailing, along with its first-ever e-sports world championship, America’s Cup E-series.

AC Sailing is developed from the same physics engine used in the very simulators that America’s Cup teams train with to enhance racing tactics and recreate race scenarios, as well as develop and test design ideas and iterations for their race yachts. It is set to revolutionize the future of sailing in e-sports, creating an exciting opportunity for fans worldwide to engage with the oldest trophy in international sports in an entirely new way.

Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Event, said, “Creating a full simulation game from a simulator that our sailors and designers use in the real America’s Cup world is really exciting. Gamers will get to experience America’s Cup sailing as close to reality as possible like never before”

. “The America’s Cup has always been at the forefront of pushing boundaries of what’s possible in sailing. We’re thrilled to bring this innovation legacy into the virtual world, elevating the role of sailing within the e-sports ecosystem as we expand our footprint to become the most inclusive sailing competition of all times”.

AC Sailing lets players take command of high-tech foiling AC40 yachts and race against others in breath-taking online races, as well as honing their skills in time trials and practice modes. The game will feature real-world locations such as Barcelona, the host venue of the 37th America’s Cup, and authentic liveries from the iconic AC40 America’s Cup yachts.

The game is the culmination of over 10 years of research and development by Emirates Team New Zealand, the current Defender of the America’s Cup, which helped the team win and retain the cup over the last two editions.

According to Emirates Team New Zealand’s Chief Technical Officer Dan Bernasconi, “By combining ultra-realistic gameplay with powerful graphics, we’re able to transport players to the centre of the action, allowing them to experience the thrill and complexity of competitive sailing like never before. AC Sailing is built on the powerful ‘Gomboc’ physics engine developed within Emirates Team New Zealand and used by most America’s Cup teams for yacht design and sailor training”.

The mechanics of the game have been designed to mimic those on the water, providing a great opportunity for both sailors and sim game players to put their skills to the test. The game features a comprehensive tutorial and several aids to allow everyone the chance to enjoy improving their skills up to the level of an America’s Cup sailor and ultimately the opportunity to qualify for the America’s Cup E- Series, a new pathway to the oldest yachting competition.

AMERICA’S CUP E-SERIES, A NEW PATHWAY TO THE OLDEST YACHTING COMPETITION

The America's Cup E-Series will allow players from around the globe will have the chance to race against each other and claim their place among the America's Cup legends. The E-series will consist of Online Qualifiers and a Grand Final taking place in Barcelona in September, with exact dates yet to be revealed.

Powered by AC Sailing as its official videogame, the first season of the America's Cup E-series will be open to all gamers. The final events will be live streamed on Twitch for a global audience, marking a historical moment for the America's Cup and the sailing community at large.

“We think there is potential for the best AC Sailing players to step out of the gaming room and onto the AC40 in real life- just like the Women & Youth sailors have been doing in training for the Puig Women’s America’s Cup and the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup.” said Bernasconi.

AMERICA’S CUP AND GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA, A TECHNOLOGICAL PARTNERSHIP

The process of creating the official video game of the America's Cup has been supported by ACCIÓ – the agency for business competitiveness of the Generalitat de Catalunya – which has facilitated the participation of a Catalan studio in the creation of the game. This participation exemplifies the potential of the video game sector in Catalonia, the leading region in the European Union in terms of attracting foreign investment in this area. According to ACCIÓ data, there are more than 200 video game companies in Catalonia, employing almost 4,000 workers and with a combined turnover of more than 500 million euros.

Roger Torrent i Ramió, the Minister of Business and Labour from the Government of Catalonia, stated, "Another great opportunity that hosting a global event such as the America's Cup offers us is the ability to showcase Catalonia's emerging potential in sectors such as video games. This industry is growing in Catalonia through foreign investment, but also thanks to local talent, such as those who have participated in this project." Additionally, Torrent emphasized that "AC Sailing will also be available in Catalan, which is an important milestone in increasing the presence of our language in this industry."

“The Generalitat de Catalunya via ACCIÓ continues to leverage the technological opportunities that the event provides and has been a very willing partner in the development of the AC Sailing game.” Said America’s Cup Event CEO Grant Dalton.

AC Sailing is available for free download on PC through the Epic Store and Steam platforms, allowing for in-game cosmetic purchases. The game will be updated with new content, as additional locations, skins and a single-player AI match race are expected to be added during the upcoming months.

For more information about AC Sailing, visit www.acsailing.com

Watch the LIVE STREAM LAUNCH here from 18:20 CET April 9th