The America's Cup is taking a completely new approach for its 37th edition and wants to ensure better accessibility for all fans through greater transparency. The reform is already bearing its first fruits.
After pictures of the construction of the AC40 test boats were published a few weeks ago, the first details of the AC75, Alinghi's new "BoatZero", are now available. These have been published on the official social media channels of the America's Cup and are part of the new "Recon Programme" for reconnaissance.
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Among other things, you can see the shape of the foils. So far, the team from Switzerland is the only one with a ready-to-sail AC75.
However, it is still uncertain whether the new openness will actually be so well received. Although the transparency for teams and outsiders provides an interesting insight, it could also take the tension away. The secrecy that previously characterised the company also ensured more individual solutions in development and was intended to prevent "copying" - or was it?
Espionage in the America's Cup less significant in future
Message from 26.07.2022
Secret espionage was observed and documented at almost every edition of the America's Cup. Special teams were entrusted with this task. In the meantime, however, spying on opponents has reached a completely new level and also represents a considerable cost factor.
Rumour has it that in addition to the familiar pursuit boats, drones, trackers and even submersibles were also used to obtain the crucial data and images.
"Understanding and knowing in which direction your opponents are moving is crucial. The more information you have, the more simulations you can carry out internally and get a feel for where you stand compared to your rivals," explains Matteo Plazzi from the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team.
Accident risk too high at the last America's Cup
At the recent 36th America's Cup in Auckland, the situation on the water was even dangerous at times, as several of the teams' spy boats chased the individual AC75 boats on their training grounds. There were near misses and all teams agreed that this could not continue.
All this is now set to come to an end, as there is a new, almost revolutionary rule. The aim is to curb spending, reduce the teams' frustration at being spied on and give viewers as transparent a view as possible of developments and techniques.
Dan Bernasconi, Chief Designer of the victorious Emirates Team New Zealand, has been wanting changes in this area for some time. Now, together with the challengers from INEOS Britannia, he is putting them into practice: "We felt it was the right time to open up the sport. This time, fans will be able to get up close and personal with the AC40 Foilers before the AC75 Cuppers start in 2024."
The audience will be presented with images, videos and analyses based on www.americascup.com are open to the public, are brought into the centre of the action. In addition to increasing the attractiveness of the event for spectators, the new regulation primarily offers a valuable, cost-saving service for all teams.
Every turn and every course change during every training session, both long and short, will be tracked on the water. The data and images will be uploaded to a cloud and can be viewed and analysed by all teams. In addition, daily interviews will be conducted with the most important helmsmen, crews and designers. Crucially, this content will also be made available to fans and supporters. So everyone will soon be able to look forward to the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona.
"The biggest benefit of this programme is the excitement it will generate among the fans," said Ben Cornish from the British team. "The content that is picked up by the teams normally remains internal, but this time the media and the public will be involved in the training and development of the teams."
The boats' potential for improvement is far from exhausted, with each episode bringing together the world's best designers with influences from the aerospace industry and Formula 1. All eyes will be on the insights gained when the boats set sail again.
The most accessible America's Cup for fans around the world
It won't be long before the teams are using the training and test boats that have just been built as effective design modules to test components and ideas that are currently on the blueprints of the world's best naval architects and engineers.
Cornish recognises the benefits of effective reconnaissance: "Of course, you always look at the direction other teams are going in." In the 2024 America's Cup, which will be an evolution of the previous edition, you can expect the teams to be even closer together in terms of boat performance and details will make the difference.
Fans will now also be able to follow the exciting developments closely and the espionage should come to an end or at least be somewhat contained. Bernasconi is certain: "This will be the most accessible America's Cup for fans around the world."
