{{short description|Class of racing catamaran yacht that was developed for the 2013 America's Cup}} {{Infobox sailboat specifications |name = |image boat = AC72_New_Zealand_Aotearoa_San_Francisco_01.jpg |imagesize = |alt = |image caption = [[Team New Zealand]] AC72, San Francisco Bay |insignia = |class_image = |image alt = |image size = |crew = 11 |hull type = Catamaran |design = [[Sailing (sport)#Measurement classes box rule|Box rule]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cupinfo.com/en/ggyc-ac72-class-rule-issued-for-2013-americas-cup-multihull-10045.php |title=America's Cup 2013 - AC72 Catamaran Class Rule Released |publisher=Cupinfo |date=15 October 2010}}</ref> |construction = |rig = |keel type = |trapeze = |loa = {{convert|26.2|m|abbr=on}} |loh = |lwl = {{convert|22.0|m|abbr=on}} |beam = {{convert|14.0|m|abbr=on}} |draft = {{convert|4.4|m|abbr=on}} |hull weight = {{convert|5900|kg|abbr=on}} |mastheight = {{convert|40.0|m|abbr=on}} |mainsailandjib = {{convert|580|sqm|abbr=on}} (wing and [[gennaker]] estimate) |sailarea = |sailarea main = {{convert|260|sqm|abbr=on}} (wing estimate) |sailarea headsail = |spinnaker = |d-pn = |rya-pn = |phrf = |year = |designer = |location = |role = |updated = |status = }}

The '''AC72''' ('''America's Cup 72 class''') is a class of [[catamaran]]s with [[wingsail]]s and [[Sailing hydrofoil|hydrofoils]], built to a [[Sailing (sport)#Measurement classes box rule|box rule]] for yachts competing in the 2013 [[2013 Louis Vuitton Cup|Louis Vuitton]] and the [[2013 America's Cup|America's Cup]] races. The class was subsequently replaced by the smaller [[AC50]] class.

==Background== Following the [[2010 America's Cup]], where the [[Golden Gate Yacht Club]]'s ''[[USA 17 (yacht)|USA 17]]'' [[trimaran]] defeated the catamaran ''[[Alinghi 5]]'', it was decided by the winners that the next [[America's Cup]] competition would be sailed in catamarans in the hope of making the sport more attractive to television audiences.<ref name="bigstory.ap.org">{{cite news |title=British sailor dies during America's Cup practice |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/americas-cup-boat-capsizes-san-francisco-bay |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704131724/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/americas-cup-boat-capsizes-san-francisco-bay |archive-date=2014-07-04 |last1=Elias |first1=Paul |last2=Wilson |first2=Bernie |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=2013-05-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the same time a smaller sister class, the [[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]].

==Specifications== The AC72 has the following maximum specifications:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://noticeboard.americascup.com/governing-documents/ac72-class-rule/ |title=AC72 Class Rule |website=America's Cup Official Race Notice Board |access-date=2013-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001060304/http://noticeboard.americascup.com/governing-documents/ac72-class-rule/ |archive-date=2013-10-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*Overall length: {{convert|26.2|m}} *Waterline length: {{convert|22.0|m}} *Beam: {{convert|14.0|m}} *Weight: {{convert|5900|kg}} *Maximum draught: {{convert|4.4|m}} *Crew: 11

'''Maximum speed'''

Using foils for the first time in the America's Cup, the AC72 was expected to [[sailing faster than the wind|sail 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.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cupinfo.com/downloads/ac34-class-rule-multihull-concept.pdf | title = AC34 Multihull Class Rule Concept Document | publisher = 34th America's Cup | access-date = 2010-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cupinfo.com/downloads/ggyc-press-ac34-rule-writing-070110.pdf| title = New high performance yachts for 34th America's Cup | publisher = 34th America's Cup | date = 2 July 2010 | access-date=2010-09-14}}</ref> In fact it proved even faster, averaging about 1.8 times the speed of the wind with peaks slightly over 2.3.<ref name=2013first2>{{cite web|url=http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18009/emirates-team-new-zealand-gets-leg-up-on-oracle-team-usa |title=Emirates Team New Zealand gets leg up on ORACLE TEAM USA |publisher=2012-13 America's Cup Event Authority |date=7 September 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=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 |archive-date=21 September 2013 }}</ref> A multiple of 2.79 times wind speed was achieved by [[Emirates Team New Zealand]] in practice, as they sailed at 44.15 knots (81&nbsp;km/h, 50&nbsp;mph) in 15.8 knots of wind on July 18, 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Kiwis-Reach-Record-Speed-in-AC-72-Foot-Catamaran-216090101.html | title = Kiwis Reach Record Speed in AC 72-Foot Catamaran | publisher = NBC | date = 19 July 2013 | access-date=2013-09-21}}</ref>

Typical racing speeds are over 30 knots (55&nbsp;km/h, 34&nbsp;mph) with the boats capable of attaining well over 40 knots (74&nbsp;km/h, 46&nbsp;mph) in the right conditions. The fastest race speed recorded was 47.57 knots (88&nbsp;km/h, 55&nbsp;mph) in 21.8 knots of wind (2.2 times the wind speed) on September 24, 2013, by [[Emirates Team New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18416/day-14-preview-on-the-brink-of-history |title=Day 14 Racing Blog |publisher=America's Cup |date=24 September 2013 |access-date=25 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927161823/http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18416/day-14-preview-on-the-brink-of-history |archive-date=27 September 2013 }}</ref>

'''Features''' <ref>{{Cite web|last=Drummond|first=Mike|title=AC34: The Anatomy of an AC72|url=https://www.sailmagazine.com/racing/ac34-the-anatomy-of-an-ac72|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Sail Magazine|date=December 2016 |language=en-us}}</ref> * 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|2013 Louis Vuitton Cup|2013 America's Cup}} The boats have been used in the [[2013 Louis Vuitton Cup]] and the [[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]], notably [[Oracle Team USA]] vs. [[Artemis Racing]] and [[Emirates Team New Zealand]] vs. [[Luna Rossa Challenge]]. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/12507/line-up-spurs-artemis-racing-into-improvements |title=Line-up spurs Artemis Racing into 'improvements{{'-}} |date=22 February 2013 |website=America's Cup |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522175130/http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/12507/line-up-spurs-artemis-racing-into-improvements |archive-date=22 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/15844/two-up-on-san-francisco-bay |title=Two up on San Francisco Bay |date=13 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828001732/http://www.americascup.com/en/news/8/teams/15844/two-up-on-san-francisco-bay |archive-date=28 August 2013 }}</ref>

==List of AC72 catamarans== {| class=wikitable |+AC72 catamarans |- !Syndicate !! Name !! Shipyard !! Launched !! Competitive history || Subsequent history |- |{{flagicon|NZ}} [[Emirates Team New Zealand]] || ''New Zealand'' || Cookson Boats || 21 July 2012 || Trial boat || Decommissioned |- |{{flagicon|US}} [[Oracle Team USA]] || ''17'' || Oracle Racing || 30 August 2012 || Trial boat. Extensively damaged in a 16 October 2012 capsize. Relaunched 4 February 2013.|| |- |{{flagicon|ITA}} [[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]] |- |{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Artemis Racing]] || ''Big Red'' || King Marine || 3 November 2012 || Trial boat || Deemed a "complete loss" after capsize on 9 May 2013 |- |{{flagicon|NZ}} [[Emirates Team New Zealand]] || ''[[Aotearoa (yacht)|New Zealand Aotearoa]]'' || Cookson Boats || 3 February 2013 || Winner of the [[2013 Louis Vuitton Cup]]<br>Lost the [[2013 America's Cup]] to [[Oracle Team USA]] (9–8) || |- |{{flagicon|US}} [[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. |- |{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Artemis Racing]] || ''Big Blue'' || King Marine || 22 July 2013 || Raced in the [[2013 Louis Vuitton Cup]]|| |}

==Incidents== On 17 October 2012, [[Oracle Racing]]'s AC72 pitchpoled (somersaulted) and [[capsizing|capsized]], causing severe damage to the yacht. The wingsail was completely destroyed while being swept under the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] by a strong ebb tide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/7828097/Oracles-AC72-catamaran-badly-damaged |title=Oracle's AC72 catamaran badly damaged |first=Duncan |last=Johnstone |website=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |date=17 October 2012}}</ref>

On 9 May 2013, [[Artemis Racing]]'s AC72 pitchpoled and broke apart, resulting in the death of crew member [[Andrew Simpson (sailor)|Andrew Simpson]].<ref name="bigstory.ap.org"/>

The other two teams, [[Luna Rossa Challenge]], and [[Team New Zealand]], both suffered minor setbacks, including hitting seals<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldregattas.com/ViewInfo.php?ContentID=564 |title=No Excuse for Another America's Cup Death |date=8 August 2013 |first=Lynn |last=Fitzpatrick |publisher=World Regattas |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929103725/http://www.worldregattas.com/ViewInfo.php?ContentID=564 |archive-date=29 September 2013 }}</ref> and damaging their wing sails, resulting in loss of sailing time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10872328 |title=Team NZ play down setback |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |first=Dana |last=Johannsen |date=20 March 2013}}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of multihulls]]

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}}

{{America'sCup}} {{2013 America's Cup}}

[[Category:America's Cup yachts]] [[Category:Catamarans]] [[Category:Box rule sailing classes]] [[Category:2013 America's Cup]]