America's Cup: First flight tests of the new AC40 class for women and young people

The foiling racing machines will be used in the Youth America's Cup and the Women's America's Cup. At the same time, however, they also serve as test and training boats for the teams. The first boat has already been used by the defence team Emirates Team New Zealand. The smaller version of the AC75 class is a one-design with automatic altitude control and self-tacking jib. The boats were designed by Team New Zealand, are 11.8 metres long and are built by the Australian shipyard McConaghy Boats.

Target top speed: 44 knots

After initially carrying out towing tests, it was possible to actually sail just one day later. With wind speeds below ten knots, boat speeds of over 20 knots were achieved. The wind limit for the AC40 class is 20 knots. The calculated maximum speeds of 39 knots upwind and 44 knots downwind should then be reached.

An impressive boat

For helmsman Nathan Outteridge, it was the first day he had sailed a foiling monohull: "It was obviously a very successful day, an impressive boat."

The team spent the whole day testing the water. It first completed a series of straight strokes before initiating the first tack. The four-man crew immediately succeeded in staying on the foils during the manoeuvre.

AC40 soon also for private individuals

The automatic control of the foils impressed the team right from the start, according to chief designer Dan Bernasconi. "The automatic altitude control was fantastic on the first day and will be a really important feature for the races with a smaller and less experienced crew on these boats," he explained with regard to the reduced crew of just four sailors. In the actual America's Cup, the AC75-Cupper team will consist of eight sailors under the new rules.

Meanwhile, the second boat in the AC40 class is already on its way to INEOS Britannia, having left the McConaghy Boats shipyard in China last week. A total of eight boats will be built for the teams, with one being completed every five weeks. After that, private buyers will also be able to have an AC40 built.

You can read more about the America's Cup 2024 in Barcelona here:

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