All four teams have now launched their first AC75. ETNZ and American Magic launched in September and both have already been foiling under sail. Luna Rossa and INEOS Team UK only launched last week. Presumably they are still tow-testing but we we expect to see photos and video of them foiling soon, too.
"Te Aihe" foiling with jib. They have also been seen with the Code 0 flown from the bowsprit. Photo: ETNZ
American Magic - the first team to foil an AC75, thanks to the experience with their test boat. Photo: Amory Ross
"Luna Rossa" was launched in Cagliari on 2 October 2019 Photo: Luna Rossa
INEO Team UK launched "Britannia" two days after Luna Rossa, on 4 October 2019 Photo: INEOS Team UK
Each team has come to different conclusions about the hulls and the foil wings. The following images are cropped from photos found on the forums at Sailing Anarchy, where you can find some interesting information, but to find it you need to wade through a lot of posts from trolls insulting each.
"Te Aihe" has a longitudinal bulge (black) running the length of the hull. Photo: ETNZ
"Luna Ross" has a pronounced skeg-like ridge. Photo: Luna Rossa
American Magic's "Defiant" has a smoothly rounded hull. Photo: Amory Ross
INEOS's "Britannia" has a flat bottom and slab sides that run all the way to the stern. Photo: INEOS Team UK
All three teams with test boats added bulbs at the T-joint between the foil arm and the foil wings. Only ETNZ did not use bulbs. The bulbs almost certainly are intended to reduce cavitation. Apparently the teams' simulators don't agree with each other. Now they will all find out if the water agrees with their simulations.
ETNZ fitted two different foils to "Te Aihe," one flat, one with anhedral, neither with bulbs. Photo: ETNZ
"Britannia" has anhedral wings with fences and a bulb at the T joint. Photo: Unknown
"Luna Rossa" has cranked anhedral wings with pods and fences and a bulb at the T joint.The pods may contain actuators for the flaps on the wings. The small fences are on the upper surface of the wing, outboard of the pods. Photo: Unknown
"Defiant's" uses anhedral and a large bulb that projects forward of the T-joint. Photo: Unknown
Stars+Stripes / McKinsey??
Bernie Wilson of The Associated Press received confirmation from Mike Buckley of Stars+Stripes that consulting firm McKinsey has signed on as a technology partner and that additional partners will be announced soon.
There is still no word on when Stars+Stripes will launch their AC75 or whether they have paid the overdue entry fees and late entry penalty.
"You Better Book Your Hotel Room Now." -Grant Dalton AC Overture 31 August 2018
Grant Dalton said he expects hundreds of thousands of visitors to Auckland for the 2021 America's Cup. He pointed out that "Emirates Team New Zealand" was the most clicked on internet term in New Zealand for the past two years "... higher than All Blacks, anything." Dalton says it will be "all on" in Auckland during the America's Cup, so "You better book your hotel room now."
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Key Facts
Dates Met
28-Sep'17: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
30-Nov'17: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
1-Jan'18: Entries for Challengers open
31-Mar'18: AC75 Class Rule published, important details TBA
30-Jun'18: End of "Challenging
Period" (avoid $1M late fee)
30-Jun'18: Last day Defender and COR can change AC75 Rule; after this date, changes require unanimous agreement from all competitors
29-Jun'18: Specs for AC75 Foil Cant System (FCS)
31-Aug'18: Venue of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed 26-Mar'18
31-Aug'18: Drawings & Specs for AC75 one design mast
31-Aug'18: Specific race course area confirmed
30-Nov'18: Late entries deadline ($1M late fee)
Future Dates Some of these dates can be found in the Protocol. Others were added in the AC75 Class Rule v1.1, e.g. setting the dates for freezing restrictions on how the FCS can be used (30-Nov'19) and for modifications to the FCS by ETNZ/Luna Rossa
31-Mar'19: Boat 1 can be launched
31Mar'19: Venues (and dates) of 2019 AC World Series Cancelled. One event has been announced for Cagliari (ITA) in
October. One more event remains to be announced.
2nd half of 2019: 1 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events (Unlikely to be held)
1-July'19: Late
Challengers must confirm (and pay fees?) or withdraw
30-Nov'19: Venues (and dates) of 2020 AC World Series
30-Nov'19: Foil Cant System usage restrictions frozen
20-Dec'19: Match Conditions: Notice of Race and Conditions for Racing
1-Feb'20: Boat 2 can be launched
30-Jun'20: Challenger Selection Series (Prada Cup) Conditions
31-Aug'20: Foil Cant System updates frozen
During 2020: 3 x America’s Cup World Series Preliminary Events
1-Nov'20: Sailing Instructions for AC Match and CSS
December 10-20, 2020: America’s Cup Christmas Race
February 2021: PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series (CSS)
March 2021: The America’s Cup Match
AC Guide - What-Where-When-Who
I've built the AC Guide to give you a central index to all the key info about the 36th America's Cup:
teams
yachts
calendar
rules
events
skullduggery
special benefits for CLUB
members
The AC Guide will frequently update as new info comes out. You'll be able to go there for the latest details.