Different paths to 37th America’s Cup

The Protocol for the 37th America’s Cup included cost saving measures for the entrants, among them being the introduction of the AC40 – a smaller and less expensive platform that teams would use for testing, training, and pre-event competition.

At this stage, the initiative would appear to have most benefited defender Team New Zealand, which developed the boat and holds rights to its proprietary systems. Going through the design and build stages are good practice, with entrants mandated to purchase at least one boat.

As the rules allow each team to build only one new AC75 for the 2024 Match, with its design development likely to be pushed as late as possible, how they train on the water will be of some interest.

The Kiwi and British teams no longer have their AC75 from the 2021 competition, whereas the American effort has launched their AC75 for a winter program in Pensacola, FL. Aside from older AC75s and the AC40, the rules do allow teams to build LEQ12 yachts, which translated means a boat that is ‘less than or equal to 12 metres’.

The British team will soon launch their LEQ12 at their training base in Mallorca whereas the Italians did just that at their Cagliari base on October 13. Here is some information they provided:

The Luna Rossa Prototype was conceived, designed and built at the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli base in compliance with the rules imposed by the 37th America’s Cup Protocol. The project is highly innovative and complex from an engineering and technological standpoint and encompasses experimental solutions in every area, with cutting edge technology in all materials.

Manufactured with carbon composites, the building process required nearly 10 months and over 30.000 work hours of over 25 people and 40 members of the design team. For the construction of the hull and composite components, 5.000 square meters of carbon fiber were used in the different materials that make up the structural core.

The boat has a wing mast with sails, similar to those used for the AC75, featuring North Sails technology. The bowsprit will be smaller and no longer used for the Code 0 (not required in the next edition of the Cup) but as a support for the technical equipment on board.

The crew will start training on the water in the next few days, with a rotation that will allow all sailors to gain confidence with the new boat.

“It is a very innovative project in which we will concentrate all our development that will be transferred to the new AC75 with which we will participate in the 37th America’s Cup,” said Max Sirena, Team Director and Skipper.

“It has been a complex process; we pushed in all sectors, drawing also on our experience from the last edition, to optimize the fundamental aspects, define the lines and increase the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic development.

“For the Luna Rossa challenge this launch is the real kick off. Beyond the technical use of the boat, this prototype also allowed us to restart the campaign in the right gear and team-up immediately, which is essential when you change so many people in different departments.

“The construction process here in Cagliari at our base has been an excellent exercise also from a human standpoint: the challenge of a new hull to build and refine has given the whole team a strong physical and mental charge.”

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/
Noticeboard: https://ac37noticeboard.acofficials.org/
Additional details: www.americascup.com/en/home