# AC72

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Class of racing catamaran yacht that was developed for the 2013 America's Cup

Team New Zealand AC72, San Francisco Bay Development Design Box rule[1] Boat Crew 11 Draft 4.4 m (14 ft) Hull Type Catamaran Hull weight 5,900 kg (13,000 lb) LOA 26.2 m (86 ft) LWL 22.0 m (72.2 ft) Beam 14.0 m (45.9 ft) Rig Mast length 40.0 m (131.2 ft) Sails Mainsail area 260 m2 (2,800 sq ft) (wing estimate) Upwind sail area 580 m2 (6,200 sq ft) (wing and gennaker estimate) [edit on Wikidata]

The **AC72** (**America's Cup 72 class**) is a class of [catamarans](/source/Catamaran) with [wingsails](/source/Wingsail) and [hydrofoils](/source/Sailing_hydrofoil), built to a [box rule](/source/Sailing_(sport)#Measurement_classes_box_rule) for yachts competing in the 2013 [Louis Vuitton](/source/2013_Louis_Vuitton_Cup) and the [America's Cup](/source/2013_America's_Cup) races. The class was subsequently replaced by the smaller [AC50](/source/AC50) class.

## Background

Following the [2010 America's Cup](/source/2010_America's_Cup), where the [Golden Gate Yacht Club](/source/Golden_Gate_Yacht_Club)'s *[USA 17](/source/USA_17_(yacht))* [trimaran](/source/Trimaran) defeated the catamaran *[Alinghi 5](/source/Alinghi_5)*, it was decided by the winners that the next [America's Cup](/source/America's_Cup) competition would be sailed in catamarans in the hope of making the sport more attractive to television audiences.[2] At the same time a smaller sister class, the [AC45](/source/AC45), was developed to allow teams to practice and adjust to the new formula as well as create a greater exposure of sailing to the general public with the [America's Cup World Series](/source/America's_Cup_World_Series).

## Specifications

The AC72 has the following maximum specifications:[3]

- Overall length: 26.2 metres (86 ft)

- Waterline length: 22.0 metres (72.2 ft)

- Beam: 14.0 metres (45.9 ft)

- Weight: 5,900 kilograms (13,000 lb)

- Maximum draught: 4.4 metres (14 ft)

- Crew: 11

**Maximum speed**

Using foils for the first time in the America's Cup, the AC72 was expected to [sail faster than the wind](/source/Sailing_faster_than_the_wind): upwind at 1.2 times the speed of the true wind, and downwind at 1.6 times the speed of the true wind.[4][5] In fact it proved even faster, averaging about 1.8 times the speed of the wind with peaks slightly over 2.3.[6] A multiple of 2.79 times wind speed was achieved by [Emirates Team New Zealand](/source/Emirates_Team_New_Zealand) in practice, as they sailed at 44.15 knots (81 km/h, 50 mph) in 15.8 knots of wind on July 18, 2013.[7]

Typical racing speeds are over 30 knots (55 km/h, 34 mph) with the boats capable of attaining well over 40 knots (74 km/h, 46 mph) in the right conditions. The fastest race speed recorded was 47.57 knots (88 km/h, 55 mph) in 21.8 knots of wind (2.2 times the wind speed) on September 24, 2013, by [Emirates Team New Zealand](/source/Emirates_Team_New_Zealand).[8]

**Features** [9]

- Pedestals

- Multi speed winches

- Backstays

- Crossbeams

- Wing Pod

- Digital Performance Indicators

- Soft Sails

- Wing-controlled cables

- Three separate cockpits

- Buttons on wheels

## In competition

Main articles: [2013 Louis Vuitton Cup](/source/2013_Louis_Vuitton_Cup) and [2013 America's Cup](/source/2013_America's_Cup)

The boats have been used in the [2013 Louis Vuitton Cup](/source/2013_Louis_Vuitton_Cup) and the [2013 America's Cup](/source/2013_America's_Cup). By mid-June 2013, all boats had "lined up" and conducted trials against each other on the planned race track in [San Francisco Bay](/source/San_Francisco_Bay), notably [Oracle Team USA](/source/Oracle_Team_USA) vs. [Artemis Racing](/source/Artemis_Racing) and [Emirates Team New Zealand](/source/Emirates_Team_New_Zealand) vs. [Luna Rossa Challenge](/source/Luna_Rossa_Challenge). [10][11]

## List of AC72 catamarans

AC72 catamarans Syndicate Name Shipyard Launched Competitive history Subsequent history Emirates Team New Zealand New Zealand Cookson Boats 21 July 2012 Trial boat Decommissioned Oracle Team USA 17 Oracle Racing 30 August 2012 Trial boat. Extensively damaged in a 16 October 2012 capsize. Relaunched 4 February 2013. Luna Rossa Luna Rossa Persico Marine 26 October 2012 Raced in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup On exhibit at the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci Artemis Racing Big Red King Marine 3 November 2012 Trial boat Deemed a "complete loss" after capsize on 9 May 2013 Emirates Team New Zealand New Zealand Aotearoa Cookson Boats 3 February 2013 Winner of the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup Lost the 2013 America's Cup to Oracle Team USA (9–8) Oracle Team USA Oracle Team USA 17 Oracle Racing 23 April 2013 Winner of the 2013 America's Cup On exhibit at the Mariners' Museum in Virginia. Artemis Racing Big Blue King Marine 22 July 2013 Raced in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup

## Incidents

On 17 October 2012, [Oracle Racing](/source/Oracle_Racing)'s AC72 pitchpoled (somersaulted) and [capsized](/source/Capsizing), causing severe damage to the yacht. The wingsail was completely destroyed while being swept under the [Golden Gate Bridge](/source/Golden_Gate_Bridge) by a strong ebb tide.[12]

On 9 May 2013, [Artemis Racing](/source/Artemis_Racing)'s AC72 pitchpoled and broke apart, resulting in the death of crew member [Andrew Simpson](/source/Andrew_Simpson_(sailor)).[2]

The other two teams, [Luna Rossa Challenge](/source/Luna_Rossa_Challenge), and [Team New Zealand](/source/Team_New_Zealand), both suffered minor setbacks, including hitting seals[13] and damaging their wing sails, resulting in loss of sailing time.[14]

## See also

- [List of multihulls](/source/List_of_multihulls)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["America's Cup 2013 - AC72 Catamaran Class Rule Released"](http://www.cupinfo.com/en/ggyc-ac72-class-rule-issued-for-2013-americas-cup-multihull-10045.php) (Press release). Cupinfo. 15 October 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bigstory.ap.org_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bigstory.ap.org_2-1) Elias, Paul; Wilson, Bernie (9 May 2013). ["British sailor dies during America's Cup practice"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140704131724/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/americas-cup-boat-capsizes-san-francisco-bay). [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). Archived from [the original](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/americas-cup-boat-capsizes-san-francisco-bay) on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2013-05-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["AC72 Class Rule"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131001060304/http://noticeboard.americascup.com/governing-documents/ac72-class-rule/). *America's Cup Official Race Notice Board*. Archived from [the original](http://noticeboard.americascup.com/governing-documents/ac72-class-rule/) on 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2013-08-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["AC34 Multihull Class Rule Concept Document"](http://www.cupinfo.com/downloads/ac34-class-rule-multihull-concept.pdf) (PDF). 34th America's Cup. Retrieved 2010-09-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["New high performance yachts for 34th America's Cup"](http://www.cupinfo.com/downloads/ggyc-press-ac34-rule-writing-070110.pdf) (PDF). 34th America's Cup. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2013first2_6-0)** ["Emirates Team New Zealand gets leg up on ORACLE TEAM USA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055314/http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18009/emirates-team-new-zealand-gets-leg-up-on-oracle-team-usa). 2012-13 America's Cup Event Authority. 7 September 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18009/emirates-team-new-zealand-gets-leg-up-on-oracle-team-usa) on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Kiwis Reach Record Speed in AC 72-Foot Catamaran"](http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Kiwis-Reach-Record-Speed-in-AC-72-Foot-Catamaran-216090101.html). NBC. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Day 14 Racing Blog"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130927161823/http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18416/day-14-preview-on-the-brink-of-history). America's Cup. 24 September 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18416/day-14-preview-on-the-brink-of-history) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Drummond, Mike (December 2016). ["AC34: The Anatomy of an AC72"](https://www.sailmagazine.com/racing/ac34-the-anatomy-of-an-ac72). *Sail Magazine*. Retrieved 2021-06-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Line-up spurs Artemis Racing into 'improvements'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130522175130/http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/12507/line-up-spurs-artemis-racing-into-improvements). *America's Cup*. 22 February 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/12507/line-up-spurs-artemis-racing-into-improvements) on 22 May 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Two up on San Francisco Bay"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130828001732/http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/15844/two-up-on-san-francisco-bay). 13 June 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/15844/two-up-on-san-francisco-bay) on 28 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Johnstone, Duncan (17 October 2012). ["Oracle's AC72 catamaran badly damaged"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/7828097/Oracles-AC72-catamaran-badly-damaged). *[Stuff.co.nz](/source/Stuff.co.nz)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Fitzpatrick, Lynn (8 August 2013). ["No Excuse for Another America's Cup Death"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130929103725/http://www.worldregattas.com/ViewInfo.php?ContentID=564). World Regattas. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Johannsen, Dana (20 March 2013). ["Team NZ play down setback"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10872328). *[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald)*.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [AC72](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:AC72).

v t e America's Cup Deed of Gift Challengers and defenders Competing yacht clubs History of the America's Cup Editions 1851 1870 1871 1876 1881 1885 1886 1887 1893 1895 1899 1901 1903 1914 (postponed) 1920 1930 1934 1937 1958 1962 1964 1967 1970 1974 1977 1980 1983 1987 1988 1992 1995 2000 2003 2007 2010 2013 2017 2021 2024 2027 Challenger Selection Series Herbert Pell Cup (1970–2024) Louis Vuitton Cup (1983–2017 & 2024) Prada Cup (2021) 1970 1974 1977 1980 1983 1987 1992 1995 2000 2003 2007 2013 2017 2021 2024 Defender Selection Series Citizen Cup (1992–1995) 1987 1992 1995 Youth America's Cup 2013 2017 2024 Women's America's Cup 2024 Class NYCC Rule Seawanhaka Rule J Class 12 Metre yachts IACC yachts regattas AC72 AC45 AC50 AC45F AC75 AC40 Related Challenger America (yacht) Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Louis Vuitton Trophy AC45 World Series Italy at the America's Cup Media Wind (film) The Wind Gods (film) Untold: The Race of the Century (documentary) The Billionaire and the Mechanic (book)

v t e 2013 America's Cup America's Cup Defender Oracle Team USA Challengers Team Artemis Team New Zealand Luna Rossa Challenge Louis Vuitton Cup AC72 World Series AC45 2011-12 2012-13

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [AC72](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC72) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC72?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.