AC40 Pre-Flight Checks for America's Cup
It's time to fly
AC40 teams prepare for takeoff as the UniCredit Youth and inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup events near ever closer.
Barcelona’s waterfront and the golden sands of the nearby St Miguel, Barceloneta and Somorrostro beaches have been awash with spectators vying to capture a glimpse of the high-octane action of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup this summer.
It’s Formula One on the water, with rockstar sailors completing jaw-dropping manoeuvres on super high-tech foiling AC75 raceboats developed specifically to compete for the ‘Auld Mug’ ’— sailing and international sport’s oldest trophy.
As the most iconic yacht racing event globally, the America’s Cup attracts the best of the best from the world of sailing. To be involved, you must be at the top of your game; there is no second place.
Poised to be standout features of this prestigious event are the UniCredit Youth (17-26 September) and Puig Women’s (5-13 October) America’s Cup competitions. Attracting the finest youth and female sailors from around the globe, from Olympians to ocean racers, teams from twelve nations will do battle as they strive for victory in intense fleet and head-to-head match racing in one-design AC40 foiling raceboats.
Photos © Nick Dempsey – Athena Racing
McConaghy Boats Prowess
When the new America’s Cup Women’s and Youth Regatta teams take to the water this September, they’ll be flying the AC40, built by McConaghy Boats – a scaled down version of the AC75 America’s Cup boats.
Underpinned by over 50 years’ boat building experience, McConaghy Boats’ dedication to excellence across its range of high performance racing yachts, fully customisable luxury multihulls and powercats is unparalleled.
Consistently at the forefront of composite technology, McConaghy worked with some of the world’s best race yacht designers to build some of the most technically advanced race yachts in the world, before being approached by Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) to build the AC40 for the 37th America’s Cup teams.
With speed predictions of close to 50 knots on the water in front of the revitalised Port Olímpic, this One-Design foiling monohull demanded a design and build which would withstand loads and stresses that would have been unthinkable in a 40-foot yacht a few years ago.
Battery power replaces the need for multiple grinders, and with a self-tacking headsail the yacht is sailed by just two helmsmen and two trimmers, while an autopilot control system maintains stable flight so the crews can focus purely on speed and tactics.
Showcasing the absolute forefront of sailing technology, the standardised controls, sails, foils, and mechanisms ensure a level playing field, placing the spotlight on crew coordination, strategic maneuvering, and foiling technique – as opposed to which teams have the biggest budgets.
Photos © Nick Dempsey - Athena Racing
AC40 Testpilots
The AC40s have been put through their paces by some of the best sailors in the world in preparation for the America’s Cup. And after proving their might as America’s Cup training vessels as the designated class for the preliminary regattas, the Youth and Women’s teams have been honing their skills, ready to race at supersonic speeds.
To prepare for these events, crew have devoted significant time familiarising themselves with the boats' controls and undergoing rigorous training sessions in AC40 simulators. There’s no doubt that the combination of high-speed foiling and the crews’ expertise will result in exhilarating and closely contested competition on the racecourse in Barcelona.
Photos © Nick Dempsey - Athena Racing
"The AC40 is really unlike any other boat I’ve sailed. The boat reaches 40 knots effortlessly, and you soon feel at home reaching those speeds from the comfort of your seat! The hydraulic trim controls mean you have total control of the sail shape at the touch of a button, and the unique set-up with two drivers and two trimmers separated by the mainsail is a new and fun challenge to ensure you are working as one group."
- Hannah Diamond, AC40 Trimmer onboard GBR Athena Pathway, competing in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup
Opportunity to Fly
If flying across the water at adrenaline-inducing speeds sounds appealing, it’s now infinitely possible.
McConaghy Boats, in partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ), is offering individuals the opportunity to fly with the purchase of an AC40, bringing the cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance synonymous with the America’s Cup to private owners for the first time in sailing history.
With interest already expressed by numerous private owners and the first build contract signed, an exhilarating one-design race series is in development. So instead of having to vie for a glimpse of the high-octane on-water action – yacht racing thrill-seekers could be right there in the middle of it.
The AC40 is now available to buy from Ancasta. Contact us to join the foiling revolution.
