America True: 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 America’s Cup and offshore legendary sailor Dawn Riley nominated the IACC yacht America True. Here’s the report:

America True was a ground-breaking campaign for the 2000 America’s Cup. Created by Dawn Riley, it was the first America’s Cup syndicate to be headed up by a woman, and the first mixed team in the Cup.

John Cutler was helmsman, and the team out-performed many expectations, getting through to the semi-final stages of the 11-team Louis Vuitton Cup, then raced in IACC yachts, and taking race wins from such heavyweight contenders as Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes.

“America True was the best bright yellow boat designed by Phil Kaiko and an excellent team who are still designing Cup boats,” recalls Riley. “But she meant so much more than just a race record as we were ‘rocking the boat’ and doing things differently.”

The America True Foundation also had a key remit of making sailing accessible through youth involvement programs.

IACC America True Stats rating:
Top speed: 17 knots
LOA: 25m
Launched: 2000
Berths: 0
Price: $10m
Adrenalin factor: 70%

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