America's Cup Official Design Rule for AC72 Class
"AC72s will look amazing, will be very fast": Press Release

Valencia, October 15, 2010

From concept to completed Class Rule in less than four months, full details of the new high-performance wingsailed catamaran were published today. 

The spectacular AC72 catamaran ensures that the 34th America�s Cup will feature the best sailors in the world on the fastest boats. 

The AC72 Class Rule moves America�s Cup racing to catamarans with a speed potential of three times the wind speed, putting the venerable competition back at the forefront of technology. 

The finalized class rule represents a tireless effort by Pete Melvin and his team at Morrelli & Melvin Design & Engineering Inc to create a new boat on behalf of the America�s Cup community. 

On July 2, to ensure the rule was created independently, the defending Golden Gate Yacht Club and its sailing team BMW ORACLE Racing presented a two page concept paper to US SAILING and Morrelli & Melvin and asked them to turn it into a fully formed multihull design rule. 

Throughout the AC72�s gestation, the fundamental requirements have remained unchanged:

• Ensure fast, exciting racing

• Challenge sailors and designers

• Capture fans� imagination

• Be versatile across the wind range, to minimize race delays

• Be capable of competitive racing in light and strong winds

• Incorporate wide-ranging cost-reduction features

�The AC72s will look amazing, will be very fast, and will take the America�s Cup into a new dimension,� said Melvin, himself a multihull champion. 

�There will be nothing else like them, which perfectly matches the allure and appeal of the America�s Cup,� Melvin added. �We are grateful for the input of many, many designers, sailors and other experts.� On September 16 a draft was circulated to potential teams and the sailing community at large. Since then over 500 comments were received and assimilated by Melvin�s team. Many have been incorporated into the final rule. 

Teams may design and build a maximum of two AC72 catamarans. The AC72s will be raced from the 2012 season onwards in America�s Cup World Series events that will lead to the Selection Series and the America�s Cup Match in 2013. 

In 2011, teams will compete in identical AC45�s, �the little sister with attitude.� This one-design catamaran will provide teams with state-of-the-art wingsail technology and fast-track their multihull racing skills. 
 

AC72 Key Features:

Additional Links and Info:

Visit Golden Gate YC website

Visit Club Nautico di Roma website