AC40 hull ready to build
Within the framework of the 37th America's Cup, the organizers launch a circuit of preliminary and parallel races on a new class of flying sailboats, called AC40 . To accelerate its development, the defender Emirates Team New Zealand has launched the construction of the production tools at the end of 2021. In a time-lapse video, we can see the work of the digital milling machine of the famous McConaghy Boats shipyard, in charge of the hull mold. Starting from roughly cut foam blocks, the machine machines the material to reveal the final shape of the hull of the future flying boat. A little-known step, it is essential to the construction of the boat, especially in this case where the hull will be a monotype element of the boat, delivered to each of the participating teams.
A development boat for the America's Cup
While the America's Cup boats are often developed entirely separately by the various teams, the AC40 will benefit from many of the one-design elements, from the hull to the mast from Southen Spars, including most of the foil system. However, these boats will also be used as development tools by the different teams, while they wait for their 75-foot AC75 boat. The first AC40 is due to hit the water in August 2022, followed by 8 others, at a rate of one every 5 weeks. The expected performance should reach 44 knots.
