The incredible shrinking AC75

by Tom Morris, The Foil
Let’s talk kilos. For the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland, the AC75 Class made its debut at 7834kg with eleven crew plus an optional guest. Those boats carried code zeros, bowsprits, backstays, and the ideal of being self-righting with heavily weighted canting foils.

For Barcelona, after some disappointing displacement racing in Auckland and with lighter winds expected in the Med, the class went on a diet – down to 7000kg. It was pretty clear where the reduction had come from: four people (three crew and one guest) had been thrown overboard. Backstays, code zeros, and bowsprits were stripped off, plus a modest reduction in wing weight.

For AC38 in Naples, we see another reduction of over 500kg, bringing total displacement to 6435kg – 18% lighter than the Auckland debut, or 1399kg shed in total. But despite losing four more crew, when you factor in a 125kg battery and a generous allowance for a guest racer, only around 60kg of reduction comes from personnel.

The significance for this Cup is that the biggest mass reduction comes from the AC75’s most critical component: the foil wing. – Full report

Details: https://www.americascup.com/

Defender New Zealand and Challenger of Record from Great Britain confirmed the Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup on August 12, 2025. The close of the initial entry period was October 31, 2025, with late entries considered up to March 31, 2026. If no USA team participates in the 38th America’s Cup, it will be the first time in the event’s 175-year history.

Current entrants:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) – Defender
• Athena Racing (GBR) – Challenger of Record
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger
• Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI) – Challenger
• K-Challenge (FRA) – Challenger

After the 2024 event, Barcelona, Spain declined hosting another edition, with the venue moved to Naples, Italy. Challenger racing begins in the spring before the 38th Match on July 10-18, 2027.

Preliminary Regattas:*
May 21-24 – Cagliari, Sardinia

* More are to be announced.