If this invention catches on, sailmakers can celebrate. Because in future, customers will have to order not just one, but two mainsails.
Team New Zealand, the defender of the America's Cup, has released a video showing how the new, futuristic monohull foiler to be used in the upcoming 2021 Cup could be powered. The test platform is a small cruising trimaran.
The mast has two grooves in each of which an identical mainsail is set. The sails lie against each other and, together with the voluminous mast profile, form an effective wing.
In addition, a rotating boom is installed in the mast top, which can be used to adjust the twist in the upper section.
However, it is not yet clear whether this or a similar configuration will actually be used in the upcoming Cup. So far, only the hull and foil concept have been announced, but the New Zealanders have kept mum on the mainsail design. However, according to Glenn Ashby (Australia), multiple multihull world champion and skipper of the victorious New Zealand team at the last Cup, it is "an important step on the way to finalising the new Cup rules". This has been announced for the end of March.
Team New Zealand tests a new soft wing sail
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
