AC72

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AC72
Current specifications
Crew 11
Type Catamaran
Design Box rule[1]
LOA 26.2 m (86 ft)
LWL 22.0 m (72.2 ft)
Beam 14.0 m (45.9 ft)
Draft 4.4 m (14 ft)
Hull weight 5,900 kg (13,000 lb)
Mast height 40.0 m (131.2 ft)
Main & jib area 580 m2 (6,200 sq ft) (wing and gennaker estimate)
Mainsail area 260 m2 (2,800 sq ft) (wing estimate)

The AC72 (America's Cup 72 class) is a wing sail catamaran box rule, governing the construction and operation of the yachts to be used in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup selection series and the 2013 America's Cup.

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.[2] 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:[3]

  • 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

It 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.[4][5] But in fact it proved faster, averaging about 1.8 times the speed of the wind with peaks slightly over 2.3.[6] Emirates Team New Zealand sailed at 44.15 knots (81 km/h, 50 mph) in 15.8 knots of wind (2.79 times the wind speed) on July 18, 2013.[7]

Typical racing speeds are over 30 knots (55 km/h, 34 mph) with the boats capable of sailing well over 40 knots (74 km/h, 46 mph) in the right conditions. The fastest race speed recorded was on Emirates Team New Zealand which 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.[8]

In competition

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Main articles: 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup and 2013 America's Cup

The boats have been used in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup and the 2013 America's Cup. By mid-June 2013, all boats had "lined up" and conducted trials against each other on the planned race track in San Francisco Bay, notably Oracle Team USA vs. Artemis Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Luna Rossa Challenge. [9][10]

List of AC72 catamarans

File:AC72 New Zealand Aotearoa San Francisco 01.jpg
Emirates Team New Zealand's AC72 Aotearoa in San Francisco Bay
AC72 catamarans
Syndicate Shipyard Launched Name Notes
New Zealand Emirates Team New Zealand Cookson Boats 21 July 2012 New Zealand Boat #1. Hydrofoiling capability. Decommissioned.
United States Oracle Team USA Oracle Racing 30 August 2012 17 Boat #1. Extensively damaged in a 16 October 2012 capsize. Relaunched 4 February 2013. Hydrofoiling capability.
Italy Luna Rossa Persico Marine 26 October 2012 Luna Rossa Sistership to Team New Zealand boat #1. Hydrofoiling capability.
Sweden Artemis Racing King Marine 3 November 2012 Big Red Boat #1. Underwent improvements between 13 February and 22 March 2013. Deemed a "complete loss" in 9 May 2013 capsize resulting in the death of crew member Andrew Simpson.
New Zealand Emirates Team New Zealand Cookson Boats 3 February 2013 New Zealand Aotearoa Boat #2. Hydrofoiling capability.
United States Oracle Team USA Oracle Racing 23 April 2013 Oracle Team USA 17 Boat #2. Hydrofoiling capability.
Sweden Artemis Racing King Marine 22 July 2013 Big Blue Boat #2. Hydrofoiling capability.

Incidents

On 17 October 2012, Oracle Racing's AC72 pitchpoled (somersaulted) and capsized, causing severe damage to the yacht. The wingsail was completely destroyed while being swept under the Golden Gate Bridge by a strong ebb tide.[11]

On 9 May 2013, Artemis Racing's AC72 pitchpoled and broke apart, resulting in the death of crew member Andrew Simpson.[2]

The other two teams, Luna Rossa Challenge, and Team New Zealand, have both suffered minor setbacks, including hitting seals[12] and damaging their wing sails, resulting in loss of sailing time.[13]

See also

References

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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ http://www.worldregattas.com/ViewInfo.php?ContentID=564
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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