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America's Cup Boats
The America's Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy event and at the same time the most technologically demanding regatta sailing in the world. The boats that compete for the trophy are not classic catamarans and multihulls in the club sense – they are highly specialized development platforms with budgets in the hundreds of millions. Since 2017, foiling designs have dominated the scene; with the AC75 class, teams sail for the first time on swiveling hydrofoils on a monohull boat. To understand the Cup, you need to know the boat generations, the match racing format (two boats in direct duel, see From Start to Finish) and the technical peculiarities.
What makes America's Cup boats special?
America's Cup boats differ from all other regatta classes in three ways: extreme speed, strict class rules per cycle and match racing instead of fleet racing. Each Cup cycle (typically three to four years) defines a new boat class. Challengers and defenders each build one or more identical boats to the same specifications – the advantage comes from aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, software and crew perfection, not from free design choice.
Foiling as standard since 2017
Since the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda (2017), Cup boats have sailed permanently on foils – the principle is described in detail under What is Foiling. The boats reach speeds of 40 to over 50 knots (approx. 75–95 km/h), while classic racing boats rarely sail more than 15 knots. Foiling technology is described in depth under Foiling Classes and IQFoil and Wingfoil in Competition and is the decisive performance driver.
Important: America's Cup boats are not series production. Each boat is developed for one Cup cycle, tested and often retired or reused as a test platform after the cycle ends.
The most important boat generations at a glance
The history of the America's Cup dates back to 1851; however, modern foiling boats mark a radical break. The following table shows the relevant classes of recent decades.
America's Cup boat generations
The historical context of yacht regattas can be found under Golden Era of Yacht Regattas and Modern Development from 2000.
AC75: The current foiling monohull class
The AC75 is the flagship of the modern Cup era. At 22.76 m in length (75 feet) and 5 m in width, the boat looks massive – however, when underway it lifts almost completely onto two swiveling T-foils (canting foils) that extend from the hull sides and can be deployed and retracted. The hull itself remains largely out of the water in foiling mode; only the foils and minimal hull contact generate the necessary lift.
Technical specifications of the AC75
Details on foiling technology can be read in the article What is Foiling and for the Olympic Nacra 17.
Canting foils: The revolutionary concept
In contrast to catamaran foiling (two fixed hull foils), the AC75 uses only one active foil to leeward while the other is retracted. This allows tight tacks and gybes in foiling mode – a maneuver that was hardly possible on classic catamaran Cup boats. Tacking and gybing at AC75 level in foiling mode are among the most demanding maneuvers in all of sailing.
AC75 foiling tack: Process in 5 steps
AC40 and AC50: Test boats and predecessors
AC40 as development and youth platform
The AC40 is a scaled-down version of the AC75 philosophy (approx. 40 feet). Teams use it as a test boat for foiling setup, software and crew training before deploying the large AC75s. Since the 37th America's Cup, the AC40 has also served as the Youth/Women's Pathway – young talents and women sail on identical boats in their own series and qualify for the major Cup teams.
AC50: The catamaran breakthrough
The AC50 (50-foot foiling catamaran) dominated the 35th Cup in Bermuda. With two hull foils and a wing rig, it set the standard for permanent foiling in match racing for the first time. Speeds of over 45 knots exceeded all expectations and made the Cup spectacular for a broad TV audience for the first time.
AC50 vs. AC75 in comparison
Crew roles on board a Cup boat
An AC75 crew consists of eight highly specialized athletes. The role distribution is significantly more complex than in Olympic classes or F18 catamarans.
The eight positions in detail
- Skipper / Helmsman – Steers the boat, bears overall responsibility for tactics and maneuvers.
- Tactician – Analyzes wind, course and opponent; communicates with the skipper via radio.
- Flight Controller – Controls the active foil via joystick; crucial for stable foiling.
- Main Trimmer – Trims the wing mainsail; optimizes lift and balance.
- Foil / Jib Trimmer – Responsible for headsail and foil flaps.
- Grinders (2–4 people) – Provide hydraulic energy for foils and sail control via hand winches.
- Bowman – Handles headsail work and maneuvers at the front of the boat.
- Navigator / Strategist – Supports course selection and long-term tactics (often also from the support boat).
Crew roles and specializations in regatta sailing form the basis; at Cup level, these roles are refined to an extreme degree.
Match racing format and rules
The America's Cup is contested as a match race: two boats, one opponent, direct comparison. There is no fleet scoring with discard rounds as in Olympic regattas. Protest and scoring issues in such duels are explained under After the Race: Protest and Result.
Typical Cup schedule
- Round Robin of the challengers – all challengers sail against each other.
- Semi-finals and finals of the Challenger Series – the winner becomes Official Challenger.
- Match against the defender – best-of-X races (typically 13 races, win at 7 points).
- Individual races last 15–25 minutes on short windward-leeward courses.
Start and course tactics – especially pre-start maneuvers and laylines – are highly complex at Cup level; fundamentals are provided by Courses and VMG and Starting Signals and Flags.
AC75 top speed during a race: Start in displacement mode (8–12 kn) → foiling transition (25–35 kn) → top speed on reach (45–53 kn). Above 50 knots, the boat is in the high-speed zone – here foil trim and crew coordination determine stability.
Materials and innovation pressure
America's Cup boats are built from carbon composite – hull, foils, mast and rig consist of high-modulus carbon fiber laminate. The class rules limit materials and construction methods, but allow maximum innovation within the framework.
Where teams differentiate
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) – thousands of hours of simulation before the first water test
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) – structural optimization of foils and hull
- Machine Learning – analysis of telemetry data from hundreds of training hours
- Sailmaking innovation – wing shape, flaps and twist profiles
- Hydraulic systems – efficiency of grinder connection and foil control
The innovation pressure at the America's Cup is unparalleled – a trend that is also visible in Modern Development from 2000 in sailing: technologies tested here find their way into production yachts and foiling leisure boats years later.
America's Cup vs. SailGP: Two foiling worlds
Both series rely on foiling multihull technology, but differ fundamentally:
More on foiling catamaran regatta classes under F18 and Nacra Classes.
Checklist: Understanding America's Cup boats
- Distinguish boat generations (12mR, ACC, AC50, AC75, AC40)
- Understand the canting foil principle of the AC75
- Know the match racing format and challenger-defender system
- Understand the eight crew roles and grinder system
- Clearly state the difference AC75 vs. SailGP F50
- Realistically assess foiling speeds (40–53 kn)
- Understand class rules per cycle as an innovation framework
- Recognize the link between Cup technology and production yacht innovation
Tip: Those who want to follow the America's Cup live should use the official live trackers and onboard cameras – the speed displays and foil angles make the technical complexity tangible for spectators.
Career path to the America's Cup
The path to a Cup boat rarely leads directly from club sailing. Typical stages:
- Optimist / Laser / 29er – Foundation in tactics and boat handling
- Foiling classes (Nacra 17, IQFoil) – Build foiling competence
- Match racing series (World Match Racing Tour) – Direct duel training
- AC40 / Youth Pathway – Entry into the Cup organization
- Grinder or trimmer role – First contact with AC75 crew
- Skipper / Helmsman – Top position after years in the team
The career path for competitive sailors is documented under By Regatta Goal and Career Path and Olympic Path and High-Performance System.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why monohull instead of catamaran for AC75?
Tradition, maneuverability and media differentiation from SailGP.
How fast do AC75 boats sail?
Up to over 50 knots (approx. 93 km/h) with sufficient wind.
Can AC75 boats sail without wind?
No, they need at least approx. 6–8 knots of wind to foil.
What does an AC75 boat cost?
Total budget per Cup cycle is 80–150 million USD including development.
When is the next America's Cup?
The 38th Cup is planned for 2028; the boat class will be set by the winning team.
Related topics
- Catamarans and Multihulls
- F18 and Nacra Classes
- What is Foiling
- Foiling Classes
- Golden Era of Yacht Regattas
Last updated: July 4, 2026