AC72
class of racing catamaran yacht that was developed for the 2013 America's Cup
The AC72 (America's Cup 72 class) is a class of catamarans with wingsails and hydrofoils, built to a box rule for yachts competing in the 2013 Louis Vuitton and the America's Cup races. The class was subsequently replaced by the smaller AC50 class.
Background
Following the 2010 America's Cup, where the Golden Gate Yacht Club's USA 17 trimaran defeated the catamaran Alinghi 5, it was decided by the winners that the next America's Cup competition would be sailed in catamarans in the hope of making the sport more attractive to television audiences. At the same time a smaller sister class, the AC45, was developed to allow teams to practice and adjust to the new formula as well as create a greater exposure of sailing to the general public with the America's Cup World Series.
Specifications
The AC72 has the following maximum specifications:
Overall length: 26.2 metres (86 ft)
Waterline length: 22.0 metres (72.2 ft)
Beam: 14.0 metres (45.9 ft)
Weight: 5,900 kilograms (13,000 lb)
Maximum draught: 4.4 metres (14 ft)
Crew: 11
Maximum speed
Using foils for the first time in the America's Cup, the AC72 was expected to sail faster than the wind: upwind at 1.2 times the speed of the true wind, and downwind at 1.6 times the speed of the true wind. In fact it proved even faster, averaging about 1.8 times the speed of the wind with peaks slightly over 2.3. A multiple of 2.79 times wind speed was achieved by Emirates Team New Zealand in practice, as they sailed at 44.15 knots (81 km/h, 50 mph) in 15.8 knots of wind on July 18, 2013.
Typical racing speeds are over 30 knots (55 km/h, 34 mph) with the boats capable of attaining well over 40 knots (74 km/h, 46 mph) in the right conditions. The fastest race speed recorded was 47.57 knots (88 km/h, 55 mph) in 21.8 knots of wind (2.2 times the wind speed) on September 24, 2013, by Emirates Team New Zealand.
Features
Pedestals
Multi speed winches
Backstays
Crossbeams
Wing Pod
Digital Performance Indicators
Soft Sails
Wing-controlled cables
Three separate cockpits
Buttons on wheels
In competition
The boats have been used in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup and the 2013 America's Cup.
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