Positive early reviews for AC40

Auckland, New Zealand (September 21, 2022) – The moment of truth arrived today with a very successful maiden sail for the AC40 on the familiar waters of the ‘back paddock’ between Auckland’s Waiheke Island and Howick Beachlands.

The 37th America’s Cup will use the newly conceived AC40 as the testing platform for all entrants, offering the ability to trial different foil wings and flaps along with sails and masts. The AC40 also has a strict one design configuration that will be used for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup.

With the sails hoisted and sheeted on, it took just a handful of minutes for Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Nathan Outteridge to go from a cautious displacement mode to popping the AC40 up onto its foils and off on starboard tack at over 20+ knots in the light 8-10 knots of breeze.

As he was not involved in the 36th America’s Cup, it was Outteridge’s first day sailing a foiling monohull, and was joined by Ray Davies, Nick Burridge, and Sam Meech.

“It was obviously a very successful day, it was an impressive boat to sail for my first time sailing this type of boat,” noted the Australian. “A little unnerving when trying to build speed, but once you get a bit of speed and the foil engages it goes from about 10 knots to 20 knots in about five seconds. So both pretty impressive, the acceleration and the reliability.”

Outteridge initially went through a selection of straight line runs before pulling off the first tack as a foiling tack, followed by the first gybe as a foiling gybe. “The boat is going really well, we have a few tweaks for sure, but awesome to sail with Nath, Sam and Nick,” noted Davies. “All of the support guys have done an incredible job, out of the box and we were ripping around foiling.”

The speeds of the AC40 were impressive in a relatively light breeze reaching a top speed of over 34 knots downwind and 27 knots upwind in the steady NW breeze.

A key component that tested well was the auto pilot flight control which will be used in the one design configuration. “With a smaller crew and less experienced crew on these boats for the Women’s and Youth racing, the auto pilot will be a really important feature,” noted Dan Bernasconi, Head of Design.

Added Davies, “After today now we know this is going to be just fine for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup. It will be spectacular racing, super quick, super-efficient and all straight out of the box.”

Following the publication of the AC37 Protocol and AC75 Class Rule on November 17, 2021, the AC75 Class Rule and AC Technical Regulations were finalized on March 17, 2022. 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 was to announce the Match Venue on September 17, 2021 but postponed the venue reveal, confirming it would be Barcelona on by March 30, 2022. The 37th America’s Cup will be held in Summer/Fall 2024.

Teams revealed to challenge defender Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
• INEOS Britannia (GBR)
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing (SUI)
• Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (ITA)
• NYYC American Magic (USA)

Training timeline: www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2022/04/21/training-calendar-for-37th-americas-cup/
Additional details: www.americascup.com/en/home

Source: Team New Zealand