Coming soon to your local harbor

As America’s Cup defender, Emirates Team New Zealand sets the boat design rules, and Chief operating officer Kevin Shoebridge discusses the concept for the bold and modern high performance fully foiling AC75 monohull racing yacht to be used in the 36th America’s Cup.

“When we came up with that rule (the AC75s), we were looking for a boat that would have a trickle-down effect to the industry, whether that’s mast design, sail design, boat construction, foils. Something that would have a future and could be used in other areas of the industry.

“That was one of the things that spurred us on to move away from the catamarans we used in Bermuda. Although they’re amazing boats, they didn’t really have an association with the normal yachtsman. A fixed wing like those boats had, a solid wing that required 30 or 40 people to launch them every day, just wasn’t that practical.

“We’re trying to come up with, for example, a semi-soft wing on this new boat that is something that could eventually be seen on cruising boats. That remains to be seen but we’re hopeful that will happen.”

Shoebridge expects the first AC75s will hit the water by the middle of this year, with racing to commence next year in the America’s Cup World Series in the lead-up to the 36th edition in 2021.

Source: thespinoff.co.nz

In addition to Challenges from Italy, USA, and Great Britain that were accepted during the initial entry period (January 1 to June 30, 2018), eight additional Notices of Challenge were received by the late entry deadline on November 30, 2018. Of those eight submittals, entries from Malta, USA, and The Netherlands have also been accepted. Here’s the current list:

Defender:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)

Challengers:
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger of Record
• American Magic (USA)
• INEOS Team UK (GBR)
• Malta Altus Challenge (MLT)
• Stars & Stripes Team USA (USA)
• DUTCHSAIL (NED)

Key America’s Cup dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
✔ January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
✔ March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
✔ June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
✔ August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
✔ August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
✔ November 30, 2018: Late entries deadline
✔ March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ 2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events (CANCELLED)
February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched
During 2020: 3 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
December 10-20, 2020: America’s Cup Christmas Race
January and February 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
March 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Details: www.americascup.com