As the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup nears, the intensity ramps up and with four teams revealing their box-fresh AC75s, it’s abundantly clear that different solutions have been found for very similar questions. The design teams have worked feverishly to deliver their best and latest thinking whilst the electronics and mechatronics engineers have been hard at it to produce the control and power-delivery systems that will define each team’s campaign. So what do we know so far? With three teams sailing, what we are seeing is fast-flight being achieved by a combination of Barcelona-specific hu ..read more

Emirates Team New Zealand commenced the new week with a bold display of heavy air sailing aboard their new AC75, ‘Taihoro’. Despite challenging conditions, they managed the offshore breeze, gusting over 30 knots, with aplomb and emerged unscathed. AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports: Emirates Team New Zealand – AC75 – Day 7 – April 22, 2024 – Auckland On Day 7, ETNZ sailed ‘Taihoro’ in the Hauraki Gulf amid strengthening southwesterly breezes. The team delayed the start to allow squalls to pass, then launched at 13:00hrs for the “Back Paddock” in more manageable conditions. They deployed a new, sm ..read more

Blue skies, flat water, temperate air and a light breeze that barely registered above 8 knots made Saturday afternoon in Barcelona a tricky prospect for Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s continued commissioning of BoatOne. In conditions that would have been un-sailable in ‘BoatZero’, they made the best of it in the AC75 they’ve internally nicknamed as the ‘Batmobile’ that certainly appears to have all the firepower of its comic creation. Light, nimble and very responsive, Alinghi Red Bull Racing was towed around the immediate vicinity off the harbour, looking for breeze lines and when they came it wa ..read more

INEOS Britannia, the British Challenger of Record representing Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd for the 37th America’s Cup, has revealed its AC75 race boat for the very first time. The 75ft vessel, code-named RB3, emerged from the INEOS Britannia base in Barcelona on Saturday 20th April for rig stepping and checking in preparation for her first sail. It was the first time the race boat had been in public view after two-and-a-half years of design, build and fit-out. Up until this point, RB3 had been shrouded in secrecy and was kept under wraps for its 1,000 mile journey from its UK ..read more

In a stirring ceremony on Thursday, Iwi manaaki Ngati Whatua Orakei gifted and blessed the name ‘Taihoro’ on the boat that Emirates Team New Zealand will sail in their defence of the 37th America’s Cup. The launch event took place, in torrential rain, at the Team’s base in Auckland’s Wynyard Point, witnessed by friends, family, Sponsors, and Suppliers. Marama Royal, Chair of the Ngati Whatua Orakei Trust, elaborated on the profound meaning behind the name ‘Taihoro’ which was inspired from Taihoro-Nukurangi, and translates to “To move swiftly as the sea between both sky and earth.” She explaine ..read more

The Herreshoff Marine Museum / America’s Cup Hall of Fame welcomes Josh Belsky, Bob Fisher, Kevin Shoebridge and Juan Vila as Class of 2024 inductees of the America’s Cup Hall of Fame. They will be honored on October 14th, 2024 at the America’s Cup Hall of Fame Induction gala at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. “This year’s class reflects the America’s Cup’s intent to foster ‘friendly competition between foreign countries’. We’re honoring four individuals—from four different nations—united by their genuine affection for each other and for yachting’s greatest prize”, said A ..read more

For NYYC American Magic it was back to business in the AC40s with the relentless two-boat race practice continuing in a beautiful 14-18 knots spring breeze with a messy off-set swell that called for boat-handling of the highest order. Unfortunately, the day was cut short by ‘America’ hitting their rudder on some debris in the water and despite putting a diver down to check the foil and stock, ultimately the wise decision was taken to return back to dock and do a thorough analysis. Speaking afterwards, Paul Goodison, helmsman for the team commented: “A beautiful day out in Barcelona, the sea-b ..read more

Another milestone day for Alinghi Red Bull Racing who not only managed to foil tow-test their stunning new AC75 but later in the afternoon also launched and sized the sails. Although they didn’t actually sail, everything is now ready for that first moment, coming soon, when the sheer power of the latest generation Swiss America’s Cup boat is unleashed. For NYYC American Magic it was another day of high-octane training marred by the presence of debris that curtailed their session. Ugo Fonollá / America’s Cup The Swiss are certainly signalling their methodical intentions in this cycle with the r ..read more

The over-riding take-away from the early commissioning phase of the new Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 is one of smoothness personified. As the sailing team wind up through the commissioning gears – and even with legacy foils – what we’re seeing is a boat flying at a consistency both in a straight-line and through the manoeuvres with an ease of purpose and simplified execution. The almost unseen power unit is delivering from the aft pods what looks like plenty of control and already we’re seeing sail shape manipulation, perhaps through early pre-sets, that makes boat-handling look a cinch. Go ..read more

A day of firsts in this Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup with Alinghi Red Bull Racing launching in Barcelona and heading out for its first tow-test whilst in Cagliari, a mast-less Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli battled worsening weather for a quick, and at times eventful, tow-session in the morning. For the Italians, there was a large sense of excitement as they docked-out from their Molo Ichnusa base with technicians onboard monitoring everything and the helms, Jimmy Spithill and Francesco Bruni, and the flight controllers (Umberto Molineris and Andrea Tesei) getting to grips with a boat that they ..read more