CupExperience News | AC75 Differences - Cockpits, Mainsails | Crew Choreography

All four AC75's have a central beam running the length of the cockpit. This probably gives structural integrity to handle the mainsheet loads needed to control twist, and provides a deck surface to endplate the mainsail. The crew work in the two "trenches," out of the airstream, reducing aero drag, and having some protection in case of a capsize. It looks like some crew will stay on each side, since crossing over during a tack or gybe looks impractical except for the aftmost positions.

Britannia has two grinding pedestals aft of the helm, making it difficult for the helmsman to change sides. Does this mean they will use two helmsmen?

Crew roles and choreography
With eleven crew, how do you tack or gybe an AC75? How do you hoist, deploy, trim, furl and stow the Code 0? Who releases the runner on one side and trims on the runner on the new windward side? The AC75 Class Rule forbids self-tacking headsails and requires that the crew must unload a sheet from one winch and load the other sheet onto another winch during tacks and gybes.

The double skin mainsail probably requires a dedicated trimmer. "Systems operator" might be a better term, since there will be controls for the battens in the upper and lower zones of the mainsail, the traveler, mainsheet, outhauls and mast rotation.

Who will handle the flight controls, to adjust the foil wing flaps and the rudder rake?

Ergonomics and the playbook for manoeuvres will be crucial parts of the development process for all the teams.

American Magic is on the way to their winter training base in Pensacola, Florida. Skipper Terry Hutchinson said that both AC75 Defiant and AM38, the Mule, will be sailing on Pensacola Bay until Defiant ships out for Italy at a springtime 2020 date. He said, "The local community here has been unbelievably supportive of what we are doing. Of any place we could have gone in the country, the only thing that happened here is that everyone says 'Yes'.... The bay is an untapped resource for sailing." Read more from Talbot Wilson here.

INEOS Team UK will train in Cagliari, Sardinia this winter. They set up their winter base not far from Luna Rossa, and will get to know the local conditions well, in preparation for the AC World Series in April 2020. The protocol prohibits "sailing or testing of AC75 Class Yachts in a coordinated manner with other Competitors." Emphasis mine. No doubt Luna Rossa and Ineos will be keeping a careful eye on each other.

Boat 2 launch? Teams are allowed to launch their second AC75 on 1 February 2020. Winter training camps and the six month delay for Boat 1 means it is unlikely either of these teams will launch Boat 2 before mid 2020. That is probably true for ETNZ and Luna Rossa as well.

The 2019 inductees are:

Dyer Jones USA - (born 1946) Active in the America's Cup since 1967, Chairman of the NYYC AC Race Committee in 1983 and Regatta Director in Valencia in 2007.
Henry Racamier FRA - (1912-2003) The late chairman of Louis Vuitton started the company's association with the America's Cup in 1982. It lasted until 2017, the longest association of any brand with any sporting event.
Bill Trenkle USA - (born 1958) Three time AC winner during eight campaigns with Dennis Conner

CupExperience readers are invited to the Induction Ceremony.
Click the invitation below to order tickets

"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."

Will you be in Auckland for the America's Cup?

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)
31-Mar'19: Boat 1 can be launched Delayed to Sept-Oct 2019.
31Mar'19: Venues (and dates) of 2019 AC World Series Cancelled.
1-July'19: Late Challengers must confirm (and pay fees?) or withdraw
DutchSail and Malta Altus withdrew
Stars+Stripes "confirmed" their challenge but did not pay fees or order the supplied equipment Foil Cant System and Foil Arms.

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

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)
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