International Americas Cup Class
Encyclopedia
The International Americas Cup Class is a class of sailing vessels
that was developed for the America's Cup
competition. These yacht
s, while not identical, are all designed to a particular formula
, so as to make the boats involved in a competition roughly comparable, while still giving individuals the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The class was established prior to the 1992 America's Cup because of perceived shortcomings of the 12-metre class
, which had been used in the America's Cup since 1958. Previously, J-class yacht
s were used.
In addition to the America's Cup, IACC yachts are raced in other regattas, including the IACC worlds.
and the 'Challenger of Record' BMW Oracle Racing
.
Typical parameters of an IACC yacht are:
On both the defender and the challenger there was a display unit with three LED lights coloured green, amber and white respectively.
The rules of racing define what tactics/maneuvers are permissible when a yacht nears a mark and also when a trailing yacht starts to overtake the boat in front. The purpose of the USS is to remove doubt and associated protests caused by competitors having differing opinions of either their positions relative to each other or their distance from marks and then performing tactical maneuvers prohibited by the racing rules.
The system was developed by Pilotfish Networks AB.
, Brad Butterworth
officially announced on behalf of Alinghi
and America's Cup Management
that a new design of boat would be sailed in the next edition of the America's Cup
. The feeling was that the existing IACC rule had evolved as far as was practical and that in the spirit of the America's Cup, a new design challenge was needed.
Alinghi eventually promulgated a new design, called the AC 90. Plans to introduce this class have been superseded by Alinghi's loss to BMW Oracle in the 2010 America's Cup.
The last regatta to see IACC boats racing in anger was the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Dubai November 2010.
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
that was developed for the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
competition. These yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s, while not identical, are all designed to a particular formula
Formula
In mathematics, a formula is an entity constructed using the symbols and formation rules of a given logical language....
, so as to make the boats involved in a competition roughly comparable, while still giving individuals the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The class was established prior to the 1992 America's Cup because of perceived shortcomings of the 12-metre class
12-metre class
The 12 Metre Class is a rating class for racing boats designed to the International rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The first 12 Metres were built in 1907. The 12 Metre Class was...
, which had been used in the America's Cup since 1958. Previously, J-class yacht
J-class yacht
The J-Class serves as a rating for large sailing yachts designed between 1930 and 1937. Reserved for a wealthy elite of yachtsmen, these boats were used to compete with the best sailing talents in three races of the America's Cup.-The 1930s:...
s were used.
In addition to the America's Cup, IACC yachts are raced in other regattas, including the IACC worlds.
IACC Sail numbers
IACC sail numbers are issued according to the date the ACM measurement committee decides the hull has reached a certain stage of completion. The number comes in two parts the country of ownership represented by the three letter prefix, and the hull number. The country code changes as the hull is transferred from country to country. Only one boat had a sail number issued twice as in the case of RUS-62 which was a new boat based on the heavily modified hull of RUS-24 and re-registered as RUS-62.IACC Rule
Version 5.0 of the International America's Cup Class Rule was issued on December 15, 2003. Copyright held jointly by the Defender AlinghiAlinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
and the 'Challenger of Record' BMW Oracle Racing
BMW Oracle Racing
Oracle Racing is an American sailboat racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America’s Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 - representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club....
.
Typical parameters of an IACC yacht are:
- Length: 25 metres
- Weight: 24 tonnes
- Height of the mast: 35 metres
- Weight of the bulb: 19 tonnes
- Sail surface area: 325 m2 upwind, 750 m2 downwind
- Crew: 17
America's Cup
- 2007 America's Cup Winner - AlinghiAlinghiAlinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
SUI-100 (defender), SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... - 2003 America's Cup Winner - AlinghiAlinghiAlinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
SUI-64 (challenger), SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... - 2000 America's Cup Winner - Black Magic NZL-60 (defender), Team New ZealandTeam New ZealandTeam New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) - 1995 America's Cup Winner - Black Magic NZL 32NZL 32NZL-32 or Black Magic, is an International Americas Cup Class yacht that won the 1995 America's Cup. She beat the American defender Young America in a 5-0 victory off San Diego, California.-History:...
(challenger), Team New ZealandTeam New ZealandTeam New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
, (New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) - 1992 America's Cup Winner - USA-23 (defender), America³America³America is the name of both a racing yacht and syndicate that vied for the America's Cup in 1992 and 1995.-1992 Cup victory:The program was operated by Bill Koch and Harry "Buddy" Melges in the 1992 America's Cup...
, (United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
)
Louis Vuitton Cup
- 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup Winner - Emirates Team New ZealandTeam New ZealandTeam New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
NZL-92NZL-92NZL-92 is an International America's Cup Class racing boat sailed by Emirates Team New Zealand that won the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 but was beaten in the 2007 America's Cup by the defender Alinghi team sailing SUI-100.-A short history:...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... - 2006 Louis Vuitton America's Cup Champion - Emirates Team New ZealandTeam New ZealandTeam New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... - 2005 Louis Vuitton America's Cup Champion - AlinghiAlinghiAlinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... - 2004 Louis Vuitton America's Cup Champion - Team New ZealandTeam New ZealandTeam New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Umpire Signaling System (“USS”)
The 2007 America’s Cup saw the introduction of the ‘’Umpire Signaling System’’ (USS) which allowed the Umpires to notify the two boats regarding their position in relation to each other when overtaking and their position relating to a mark of the course when in close proximity of the mark.On both the defender and the challenger there was a display unit with three LED lights coloured green, amber and white respectively.
- GREEN lamp: ZONE ENTRY. Status ‘On’ indicates that the leading yacht has entered a zone of two or three boat lengths from the mark.
- AMBER lamp: OVERLAP. Status ‘On’ indicates that the bow of the overtaking yacht is overlapping the stern of the leading yacht and there is no restriction on the leeward yacht to steer a direct course for the next mark. The leeward yacht may point higher than the direct course to the next mark causing the windward yacht to either tack or sail higher than needed to the next mark.
- WHITE lamp: RULE 17.1. Status ‘On’ indicates that the depth of the overlap has increased to the point where the yacht to leeward must now steer a proper course to the mark and hence cannot point higher and force the overtaking yacht to either tack or sail a higher course to the next mark.
The rules of racing define what tactics/maneuvers are permissible when a yacht nears a mark and also when a trailing yacht starts to overtake the boat in front. The purpose of the USS is to remove doubt and associated protests caused by competitors having differing opinions of either their positions relative to each other or their distance from marks and then performing tactical maneuvers prohibited by the racing rules.
The system was developed by Pilotfish Networks AB.
The Formula
Formula:- DSP: displacement in cubic metres;
- L: rated length in metres;
- S: rated sail area in square metres;
The future of the IACC
Immediately after the conclusion of the 2007 America's Cup2007 America's Cup
The 2007 America's Cup was the thirty-second challenge for the America's Cup and was won by Alinghi in the 7th race. The Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta and Match Race in the sport of sailing....
, Brad Butterworth
Brad Butterworth
Bradley William Butterworth, OBE is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup for Team New Zealand and the Alinghi team of Switzerland.He was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1959...
officially announced on behalf of Alinghi
Alinghi
Alinghi is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
and America's Cup Management
America's Cup Management
Alinghi, as holders of the America's Cup following their win in the 2003 America's Cup, held the responsibility and benefits of defining the rules and structure for the next event...
that a new design of boat would be sailed in the next edition of the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
. The feeling was that the existing IACC rule had evolved as far as was practical and that in the spirit of the America's Cup, a new design challenge was needed.
Alinghi eventually promulgated a new design, called the AC 90. Plans to introduce this class have been superseded by Alinghi's loss to BMW Oracle in the 2010 America's Cup.
The last regatta to see IACC boats racing in anger was the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Dubai November 2010.
See also
- Maxi yachtMaxi yachtA maxi yacht usually refers to a racing sailboat of at least in length. It is also a Swedish brand of smaller sailing yachts.-Origin:The term maxi originated with the International Offshore Rule rating system, which in the 1970s and 1980s measured offshore racing yachts and applied a...
- 18th man18th manAmerica's Cup yachts are crewed by 17 individuals. These boats must carry what is known as the 18th man, a passenger or the equivalent weight up to 100 kg. This is a highly sought-after position, often filled by a celebrity or a representative from one of the key sponsors to the...
- List of America's Cup Class Yachts
- Louis Vuitton CupLouis Vuitton CupThe Louis Vuitton Cup is a yachting competition connected with the America's Cup. The Louis Vuitton Cup was used as the selection series to select the team to sail as the challenger in the America's Cup...