Combined tech know-how leads to exciting AC40 cups

As the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup finishes, and the Puig Women’s America’s Cup continues, companies are setting out the work which they’ve done to support the teams.

Three of these, North Sails, Southern Spars and Future Fibres, are delighted to be involved in pushing the boundaries of sailing performance. And now they’re enjoying seeing their kit showcased on a worldwide stage by sailors who – mostly – already have experience in exciting foiling classes like Moth, Wazp, 69F and in the F50s of SailGP. Overall there’s an exciting prospect of a diverse range of foiling practitioners competing at the highest level.

“Don’t be misled by the name,” says Southern Spars (who earlier this year signed a deal with environmental NGO Greenpeace International to design, deliver and maintain a DynaRig system), “the Youth America’s Cup crews are far from inexperienced. They include Olympians and world champions across various classes. The Puig Women’s America’s Cup showcases some of the most prolific names in world sailing, including the likes of Hannah Mills — one of the most successful female Olympians of all time.”

The smaller sibling of the AC75, each AC40 is fitted with 3Di sails from North Sails (the company has also supplied sails to what’s being termed the world’s fastest race boat), a high-performance carbon rig from Southern Spars, and Future Fibres’ multistrand composite rigging. Leading edge technologies from across the group of companies combine to form the world’s most decorated engine above deck, optimised to work together and push the boundaries of sailing performance.

The AC40 has plenty in common with its larger counterpart. With respect to its rig package, the AC40 also features a D-shaped Southern Spars mast, which rotates up to 45° to harness the performance power of its twin skin North Sails mainsail. Both feature T-shaped foils that lift the yacht out of the water, reducing drag and enabling higher speeds. Both feature advanced control systems.

There are some key differences, however. The most obvious of these is that the AC40 is scaled down, with a 12m hull and 18m mast. Reduced size and displacement make the AC40 lighter and more responsive, making it well-adapted for fleet racing, which forms the bulk of both the Youth and Women’s America’s Cups.

Onboard an AC40 there is a crew of just four – comprised of two helms and two sail trimmers – rather than the 11 crew members on an AC75. With the absence of cyclors, human power is replaced by battery power for running the hydraulics, which play a key role in operating the foils, sails and other systems.

Future Fibres is the one-design rigging supplier for both the AC75 and the AC40. Each AC40 is equipped with ECthree – the company’s premier rigging product for yachts in the 30- to 65-foot range.

The AC40 has captured the imagination, representing the next stage in the exciting evolution of foiling innovation, says Southern Spars.

The America’s Cup teams are not restricted by gender in terms of crew composition. Historically, however, the competition has been dominated by male sailors, with women having participated only occasionally. 2024 marks the first stand-alone women’s event in the 173-year history of the America’s Cup, and Southern Spars says the company is extremely proud to contribute to such a significant milestone.

Main image courtesy of Ivo Rovira, America’s Cup.