America's Cup World Series

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America's Cup World Series
Sport Sailing
Founded2011
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competitions
America's Cup
AC45s rounding the first mark in San Francisco, 2012 America's Cup World Series San Francisco.jpg
AC45s rounding the first mark in San Francisco, 2012

The America's Cup World Series are match races and fleet regattas used as heats for the 2013 America's Cup and the 2017 America's Cup.

Contents

The Yachts

AC45 and AC45F

The World Series uses AC45 catamarans, a one-design wingsail catamaran designed specifically for the event by Oracle Racing. The AC45 was conceived as a smaller version of the larger AC72 class rule which was used for the 2013 America's Cup. In 2015, the class was modified to AC45F which incorporated hydrofoiling capability for improved performance, with boats achieving peak speeds of 37kt. [1]

The AC45 has the following specifications:

Testing platform

The AC45 are authorized to be taken out of measurement to serve as a testing platform for the America's Cup. Oracle Racing released photographs of an AC45 hydrofoiling with L-type appendages on June 18, 2012, a premonition of Team New Zealand's larger foiling AC72 Aotearoa test boat first spotted in Auckland on August 29, 2012. [2] In February 2015 Oracle Racing and Artemis Racing tested two AC45s modified by Core Builders; They featured L-type hydrofoils, horizontal rudder stabilizers, lengthened crossbeams (herego wide beam), a shortened jib-only bowsprit extending into a centerline pod under the wing, flaring topsides, closed transoms, opened hulls with deep cockpits for binnacles and wheels, replacing the tiller. The authorization does not permit to lengthen the hulls. All other teams carried out similar experiments with the platform.

2011–13 World Series

Nine events were held between 2011 and 2012 in the lead up to the 2013 America's Cup.

In August 2013, the competition jury received a report from Oracle Team USA that their boat and others they had loaned had unauthorized modifications. [3] Since they were using one of these modified boats, the BAR team withdrew from the competition on 7 August 2013. Oracle Team USA withdrew the day after. [4] Penalties imposed included expelling three team members, [5] a $250,000 fine, and a one-point penalty for each of the first two races of the Match in which they would otherwise score a point. [6]

2015–16 World Series

The series was revived as heats of nine two-day events in eight venues in the run up to the 2017 America's Cup. The races used a single boat design, known as AC45f, which was based on AC45 with added hydrofoil daggerboards and rudders.

The overall winner of the competition was Land Rover BAR, with Oracle Team USA being the runner up. The winner of the series earned two points and the runner-up received a single point in the new America's Cup Qualifiers. The boats are similar to the AC50 used in the 2017 America's Cup.

Cancelled 2018 and 2020 World Series

Prior to the 2017 America's Cup, several of the competing syndicates [NB 1] signed an agreement to hold World Series prior to the next two America's Cups, then scheduled for 2019 and 2021. These two World Series would be used as selection series to determine which teams would compete at the 2019 and 2021 Louis Vuitton Cups Challenger Selection Series. These two seasons would have used the AC50-class yachts, instead of the AC45 or AC45F classes. However, the winner of the 35th America's Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand was not a signatory to the agreement for the 36th and 37th America's Cup, making these plans obsolete. [7] [8]

Footnotes

  1. Oracle Team USA, Land Rover BAR Team UK, Team France, Softbank Team Japan, Metro Artemis Team Sweden

Related Research Articles

Americas Cup Sailing race trophy

The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy and the other from the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. There is no fixed schedule, with matches held several years apart on dates agreed between the defender and the challenger. The most recent America's Cup match took place in March 2021.

Oracle Team USA American sailboat racing syndicate

Oracle Team USA is an American yacht racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America's Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 – representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club. The team also won the 34th America's Cup in 2013.

Daggerboard

A daggerboard is a retractable centreboard used by various sailing craft. While other types of centreboard may pivot to retract, a daggerboard slides in a casing. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, countering the leeward push of the sail. The theoretical centre of lateral resistance is on the trailing edge of the daggerboard.

International Americas Cup Class Class of racing yacht that was developed for the Americas Cup between 1992 and 2007

The International Americas Cup Class is a class of racing yacht that was developed for the America's Cup between 1992 and 2007. These yachts, while not identical, were all designed to the same formula to offer designers the freedom to experiment whilst keeping the boats sufficiently comparable to race in real time. The class was established for the 1992 America's Cup because of perceived shortcomings of the 12-metre class, which had been used in the America's Cup since 1958.

Hobie Cat Small sailing catamaran

Hobie Cat is a company that manufactures sailing catamarans, surfboards, sailboats, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and pedalboards as the Hobie Cat Company. It was founded in 1961 by Hobart Alter, who originally manufactured surfboards. Its line of products has included more than twenty sailing craft, plus a variety of other watercraft.

Team New Zealand or TNZ is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Sailing hydrofoil Sailboat with wing-like foils mounted under the hull

A sailing hydrofoil, hydrofoil sailboat, or hydrosail is a sailboat with wing-like foils mounted under the hull. As the craft increases its speed the hydrofoils lift the hull up and out of the water, greatly reducing wetted area, resulting in decreased drag and increased speed. A sailing hydrofoil can achieve speeds exceeding double and in some cases triple the wind speed.

Jimmy Spithill Australian sailor (born 1979)

James Spithill is an Australian yachtsman.

2013 Americas Cup

The 34th America's Cup was a series of yacht races held in San Francisco Bay, on September 2013. The series was contested between the defender Oracle Team USA representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club, and the challenger Emirates Team New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Oracle Team USA defended the America's Cup by a score of 9 to 8, after winning eight consecutive races from Race 12 onwards. Team New Zealand won the right to challenge for the cup by winning the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup. The 34th America's Cup's race sequence was the longest ever, by both number of days and races, and the first since the 25th America's Cup to feature both teams in a match point situation. For the first time since 1995, the format changed to the best-of-17.

The inaugural America's Cup World Series were held between 2011 and 2013 in the lead up to the 2013 America's Cup. They were raced in AC45 catamarans. The competition was rocked by a cheating scandal in which Oracle Team USA had made an unauthorized modification by using additional ballast. The team withdrew from the competition on 8 August 2013. Penalties imposed included expelling three team members, a $250,000 fine, and a one-point penalty for each of the first two races of the Match in which they would otherwise score a point. This also affected boats on loan to Ben Ainslie Racing and HS Racing, which withdrew from the competition. After reallocating points, overall winner for 2011/2012 was declared to be Team New Zealand, and for 2012/2013 it was Luna Rossa Piranha.

AC72 Class of racing catamaran yacht that was developed for the 2013 Americas Cup

The AC72 is a class of wingsail catamarans built to a box rule, which governs the construction and operation of yachts competing in the 2013 Louis Vuitton and the America's Cup races. The class was subsequently replaced by the smaller AC50 class.

2017 Americas Cup 35th staging of the Americas Cup yacht race

The 2017 America's Cup was the 35th staging of the America's Cup yacht race. The challenger, Emirates Team New Zealand, won by a score of 7 to 1 over the defender, Oracle Team USA. It was held on the Great Sound in Bermuda from June 17 to June 26. The races were conducted using hydrofoiling AC50 America's Cup Class yachts, which are slightly larger than the AC45F yachts used in the 2015–16 America's Cup World Series.

The 2017 Louis Vuitton Challenger's Trophy was a sailing competition held to determine the challenger in the 2017 America's Cup.

GC32

The GC32 is a class of hydrofoiling catamaran, 32 feet in length and constructed of carbon fibre, with a top speed of about 40 knots. They are sailed in the GC32 Racing Tour, and have replaced the Extreme 40's in the Extreme Sailing Series.

INEOS Britannia

INEOS Britannia is a British sailing team that is the challenger of record for the 37th America's Cup.

Jonathan "Jono" Macbeth is a New Zealand professional yachtsman who is best known for his participation in multiple America's Cup campaigns.

AC75 Racing yacht used in the 2021 Americas Cup

The AC75 is a racing yacht used in the 2021 America's Cup match and planned to be used for the 37th America's Cup and 38th America's Cup matches. The 23 m (75 ft) monohulls feature wing-like sailing hydrofoils mounted under the hull, a soft wingsail, and no keel.

American Magic is an American yacht racing team formed to compete for the 36th America's Cup. They represent the New York Yacht Club and were founded by formed in 2018 by principals Hap Fauth, Roger Penske, and Doug DeVos.

F50 (catamaran) Class of catamaran

The F50 is a one-design foiling catamaran used in the SailGP race series. The F50s are adapted from the AC50s used in the America's Cup, with modifications including new control systems and modular wingsails. The F50s are one of the fastest racing classes in history, with a predicted top speed of 52.2 knots ; the current F50 speed record, achieved by the Great Britain SailGP team at the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix in 2021, stands at 51.1 knots.

Nacra 20 Sailboat class

The Nacra 20 is a catamaran sailing dinghy that was designed by Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin as a one-design racer and first built in 1998.

References

  1. "Peak speed, raw data", 150828.zip/20150828125400-NAV-USA.csv, Göteborg: AC Race Management, event occurs at 13:20:42.002, 2015-08-28[ permanent dead link ]
  2. first sighting of a hydrofoiling AC72: "ETNZ AC72 Sailing". crew.org.nz. 29 August 2012.
  3. Gavin Clarke, Oracle Team USA sailors admit breaking America's Cup rules, The Register, 12 Aug 2013. Retrieved 30th July 2016.
  4. America's Cup Jury, Jury Notice JN096, 8th August 2013
  5. "JURY CASE AC31, JURY NOTICE JN116, Allegation of Gross Misconduct, DECISION and PARTIAL LIFTING OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER" (PDF). Americas Cup Jury. 2013-09-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-07. Retrieved 27 September 2013. DECISIONS ON PENALTIES
    105. Bryce Ruthenberg is excluded from further participation in any role in the 34th America’s Cup.…
    106. Andrew Walker is excluded from further participation in any role in the 34th America’s Cup.…
    108. Matt Mitchell is excluded from sailing on a Yacht competing in the Match for the 34th America’s Cup until 4 races have been completed.…
    109. Dirk de Ridder is excluded from further participation in any role in the 34th America’s Cup.
  6. "Jury Notice JN117", 3 September 2013,
  7. 35th America's Cup Organization. "The Future of the America's Cup". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  8. NZ Herald (27 June 2017). "Grant Dalton to reveal America's Cup plans in two weeks". nzherald.co.nz. New Zealand Herald.