Friday, September 29, 2017

New AC Boats





Out with the old... In with the new......
The preliminary information regarding the next America's Cup races and boats is out.  And there are some big changes from the boats used in the last two Cup races.  No more flying cats!!!! to start with.
But, not back to the 12-Meter boats or AC mono-hulls either......  An "all new" design is being called up.  Here are some recently published ideas...





  The boat is a 75-foot long monohull, and the design details will be complete by next spring
  Cost containment is a fundamental principal
  The boats will need to be built in the country challenging.
  Nationality rule: Citizenship requirement is a mere 20%, the rest of the sailing team needs a strict residency requirement in the country they are representing. “It’s not a strict thing, but it’s an attempt
  Cup is Auckland 2021, but there’s no infrastructure or plans yet.  2019 and 2020 there will be pre-regattas.
  Two boats allowed per team.
  Challenger series will be organized by the CoR.  AC will be organized by the defender.  Joint group for broadcasting/sponsorship/umpiring and other common issues.
  “They might be” foiling.  The next boat will be presented in November and it ‘definitely will be an exciting boat’.
  Some one-design componentry, some supplied parts likely.  Development ‘open in the really important areas’.
  10-12 crew, bicycles allowed.
  No tank testing allowed, no wind tunnels.
  If for any reason, it can’t be in Auckland, it’ll be in Italy.
  Prada Cup.  Yes, Louis Vuitton is gone, and Prada is not only title sponsor of the challenger series, but presenting sponsor for the big one.  Does LV have the balls to return on a Challenger’s sails?
  Independent regatta directors and race management, similar to Bermuda setup for RM.
  Longer races, ~40 minutes.  Longer pre-start, upwind start.



So, there you have it......  Probably races in NZ... but maybe in Italy????  Mono-hull,,, but maybe with foils?????
More to come later.




Barnacle Bill Holcomb
509 993 3214
BarnacleBillHolcomb@gmail.com









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