Former Team New Zealand and later Land Rover BAR technical director Andy Claughton looks at what we know so far and what we should – and should not – expect during the run-up to America’s Cup 36 in 2021


The bare facts


Class yachts (AC75s) under the restrictions of the Protocol. Getting afloat is a big step forward. For


During this July Ineos Team UK launched their test boat, the first physical evidence that preparations for the 36th America’s Cup are underway. The latest Cup Protocol permits teams to do on-the-water testing in any yacht that is less than 12m long. Other than this all sailing must be done in the AC


46 SEAHORSE


all the talk about computer simulation and 3D CAD modelling there is nothing like working with some hardware to find the problems, nothing like having something that floats to get the sailors engaged with how they will sail the boat. The British test boat has taken several months to adapt from its previous life as a lake racer. It now has the full America’s Cup foil package and control system. This pocket rocket certainly works and


has been charging up and down the Solent at 30kt+ by all accounts. At this size of boat and given it’s a prototype the proportions are somewhat different from the Cup Class itself. The current foils are larger to make


sure the thing takes off easily. On the Cup boats different foils are available for differ- ent wind strengths but it’s unlikely the prototype will have too many of those. Having seen the boat sailing everyone –


not just Ineos UK – can press on more confidently towards the full-sized boats. The basic concept works; quite how all this will unfold getting out of a dial-up or in a tacking duel who knows, but there isn’t much the top sailors can’t work out. Despite its modest size there is plenty


going on inside this little boat: full race wiring loom and probably some controls that control ride height; initially there is a powered version of the Moth foil control wand. This will be illegal on the Cup boats, but at this stage using an autopilot system is essential in terms of learning control


INGRID ABERY


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