IACC: World’s coolest yachts

Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and Olympic gold medalist and America’s Cup sailor Tom Slingsby picks the International Americas Cup Class (IACC) yachts. Here’s the report:

“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.

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.”

For Yachting World’s list of cool boats, click here.