AC40 vs. AC75 / Two boats, one vision

How much do you know about the AC75 and the AC40? At first glance, they look pretty similar. They’re like cousins – closely related, but with some key differences. The two classes of boat were designed especially for the America’s Cup, and each push the boundaries in terms of foiling technology, design and performance. As the Alinghi Red Bull Racing Women’s team competes in the AC40 to challenge for the first-ever Women’s America’s Cup, we take a closer look at each of these cutting-edge foiling monohull yachts…

Let’s start with the obvious: the AC75 is much bigger, at 20.7 metres long compared to the AC40’s 11.8m, and a fair bit faster, reaching speeds of up to 55 knots (over 100 kph), whereas the AC40 tops out at around 45 knots. Uncrewed, the AC75 weighs 6.5 tonnes, more than three times the AC40’s 2 tonnes, meaning there’s a lot more momentum and making any potential mistakes more costly. While eight crew are needed on the AC75, both boats have four sailors onboard with fairly similar roles. This means many of the considerations are similar, such as the settings and trimming, as well as the way the crew communicates around the racecourse. With the AC40’s autopilot, it could be seen as the difference between manual and automatic drive.

Very few have had the chance to experience an AC75 up close. In fact, only the sailors in this America’s Cup can truly compare the two boats. Skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis gives a sense of what they’re like to sail. “If you want to compare the speed between them, imagine driving at 120 km/h on the highway. Already fast, and then someone passes you 40 km/h faster. That’s the difference between the AC40 and the AC75.” But don’t let that fool you—the AC40 is still a monster. “In any other boat, sailing next to them feels like walking on the highway,” says Arnaud. “The AC40 is super quick for its size; after the AC75 it’s probably the second-fastest boat on the planet around our racecourse.”

The Puig Women’s America’s Cup marks the first time women have competed in their own America's Cup series, and these world-class sailors have been preparing for months to challenge in the AC40. It’s not an easy boat to master – even getting the AC40 onto its foils can be challenging and requires a lot of practice. And Barcelona's conditions, particularly the waves, make racing in the AC40s even more intense. The boats can handle these rough conditions, but it requires precise control. While women have yet to sail the AC75, many see the AC40 as a stepping stone paving the way for the future of the Cup. It may only be a matter of time before we see men and women sailing together in the AC75, or something even faster…