• Media ID-26410

    THE BOATS
    AC75, AC40 & HYDROGEN BOATS

    Both the AC75 and AC40 classes will return for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, promising even more boundary-pushing advancements. With rule changes and design guidelines being further developed, teams will be looking forward to preparing to defy physics, embrace bold innovations, and deliver a spectacle that redefines the future of sailing. For fans, sponsors, and stakeholders, the next chapter of the America’s Cup promises to be more dynamic, cutting-edge, and inspiring than ever before.

    In addition to the thrilling sight of foiling sailboats in action, the America’s Cup brings innovation to the water with the competing teams fielding sustainably fuelled chase boats. This move not only reduces the event's environmental impact but also underscores the America’s Cup as a leader in technological and sustainable innovation.

  • Media ID-26339

    AC75: THE AMERICA’S CUP BOAT
    A FLYING MONOHULL

    The AC75 first appeared on the racecourse during the 36th America's Cup in Auckland in 2021, and returned for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. The boats evolved significantly: larger foils enabled faster lift and flight, the hulls were lighter, and advanced electronics and software systems were introduced.

    As the sailing world looks ahead to the teams' iterations and developments for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples, one thing is certain: innovation will again be front and centre. While core one-design elements will remain, teams are expected to push boundaries through custom components in search of a competitive edge.

    The crew of the AC75s will consist of five sailors, with trim functions of the boat powered by battery. In an exciting move to provide novel perspectives to audiences, the teams will carry one Guest Racer onboard their AC75 during races. VIPs, sponsors, media, influencers and dignitaries will get to experience first-hand and report exactly what it is like to race onboard the most technological boats in the world, going head-to-head in the heat of match racing.

    In Barcelona, INEOS Britannia clocked a record-breaking 55.6 knots (102.97 km/h) during Race 8 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final. The question now is: how much faster can they go?

    READ THE AC75 CLASS RULES
    READ THE AC75 TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
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  • HELMS

    The AC75 features two helms: One on the port side (left) and the other on starboard (right) sat in individual pods and linked via advanced radio comms. With limited 180-degree visibility due to the massive sails that sweep across the decks, precise and seamless communication between them is crucial for success.

    The helms don’t just steer; their advanced steering wheels control multiple functions, including micro-trimming of the pitch, cant, and angle of the boat, making them central to the AC75’s high-speed performance.

  • FLIGHT CONTROL

    Flight Controllers play a critical role in achieving peak performance. Their responsibility is to keep the boat flying smoothly on its foils while optimising speed. To do this they are constantly altering and trimming the foil flaps making split-second adjustments with an intricate understanding of the boat’s dynamics to maintain stability and efficiency at incredibly high speeds.

  • Trim / Data Analysis

    Working in conjunction with the other crew, the Trimmers and Data Analysts are integral to the team's overall strategy. The trimmers are constantly adjusting the sails for optimum performance through waves, lulls or increases in wind pressure.

    The new data role onboard for the fifth person is analysing the use of energy delivered by the batteries onboard that power the trimming, mast rotation and foil cant arm systems. With power limited to the same output as the ‘cyclors’ of old, the data role is one of the most crucial onboard the AC75.

  • Media ID-26409

    DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND BOAT BUILDING
    INTERDISCIPLINARY & INNOVATION

    America’s Cup teams are built on a foundation of expertise, with boat builders and research & development teams. These teams bring together a variety of specialised skills to achieve peak performance.

    Principal naval architects work alongside experts in mechatronics, hydraulics, aerodynamics, software engineering, AI and data analysis to push the boundaries of yacht design and construction. The yachts are built entirely from carbon fibre, requiring each team to maintain their own dedicated composite boat-building specialists as well as sailmakers to manage the advanced sails.

    Together, these professionals form a highly technical and innovative workforce driving the competition to new heights.

  • Media ID-26408

    SHORE CREW, ON-WATER & OPERATIONS
    SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

    Behind every America’s Cup team is a dedicated shore crew and rigging team responsible for launching, rigging, system checks, cleaning, and securely storing the boat, ensuring it’s race-ready each day. An on-water support team provides additional data and surveillance for in-house performance analysis.

    Each team also relies on a diverse group of specialists to manage operations and logistics. Meteorologists deliver critical weather forecasts, medical staff and coaches support the athletes. Media and public relations teams handle global visibility, hospitality teams ensure memorable experiences for guests and fans, and logistics and administrative professionals work together to keep the campaign running smoothly, ensuring every detail is covered for peak performance.

  • Media ID-26338

    AC40: YOUTH, WOMEN, AND TRAINING
    2023 ‘BOAT OF THE YEAR’

    The AC40 class is the ultimate pathway boat for sailors wishing to race in the AC75. These compact, cutting-edge boats first debuted in the Preliminary Regattas of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, as well as the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup and the Youth America’s Cup. Delivering exhilarating high-speed performances, the AC40s showcased unmatched versatility, agility, and precision, adding a dynamic new dimension to the competition that thrilled sailors, experts, and spectators alike.

    For racing in the Preliminary Regattas, the AC40s are strictly one-design yachts with auto-pilot for flight control, built to identical specifications under tight rules to ensure fairness, so that victory comes down to skill, teamwork, and athletic performance rather than equipment.

    Each AC40 is steered by two helms—one on port and one on starboard—and supported by two trimmers working the mainsail and the jib. 

    The AC40 relies on advanced battery-powered systems, eliminating the need for a power crew. A lithium battery pack drives the hydraulic systems and powers the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) unit, which manages all sail, mast, and board controls. With power reserves designed to last up to 8 hours, these boats demonstrate cutting-edge technology to redefine competitive sailing.

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FAQs

  • What are the major changes to the AC75 Class Rules for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup?

    Teams will now reuse or adapt legacy hulls from the 36th or 37th America's Cup rather than designing entirely new ones, and Cyclors (human pedal power systems) are eliminated in favour of stored energy systems. The Class Rules also outline a five-sailor crew including at least one female sailor, and introduce a Guest Racer cockpit position to allow a non-team member to sail onboard during races.

  • How many AC75 yachts can each team build for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup?

    Each team is limited to having just one AC75, and restricted to using and modifying one legacy hull from either the 36th or 37th America's Cup. This rule keeps costs under control and ensures the racing fleet remains closely matched. New teams have the option to buy an existing AC75 or replicate a hull based on the designs of existing boats.

  • Why are the rule changes expected to make the competition more sustainable and closer?

    Because hull design advantages were found to be minimal, the rules shifted the design emphasis to foils, systems, and electronics rather than costly and time-consuming hull building. This enables a cost containment strategy through reuse of existing hulls and strict component limits, which help level the playing field and push teams to innovate in areas with greater performance impact.

  • Media ID-26411

    eCHASE BOATS AND HYDROGEN CHASE BOATS

    With sustainability at the forefront of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, a new stipulation in the Protocol that governs the event mandates that all teams must operate either a hydrogen fuelled chase boat or a new eChase Boat powered by electricity. In the last America’s Cup, all the teams had hydrogen-powered chase boats, with Emirates Team New Zealand leading the way in this groundbreaking innovation.

    The vessel, named ’Chase Zero’, ran on two 80kW Toyota hydrogen fuel cells—one in each hull—which supplied most of the boat's energy needs. The hydrogen (H2) molecules were processed through a catalyst to fuel the engines, leaving behind H+ ions. These ions then bonded with oxygen from the surrounding air, producing nothing but pure water (H2O) as the sole emission.

    For 2027 again the race is on to build advanced eChase Boats and take electric power to the next level. What the teams will come up with is sure to attract attention and place the America’s Cup once again at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.