An interesting article showing the Team New Zealand AC72 catamaran foiling. The next edition of the America's Cup will be contested in 72' catamarans. There is also the ACWS also contested in catamarans but in that case they are one design and are intended to act as a training platform for the competitors in the next America's Cup. They do however carry a rigid wing rig and are of lightweight construction so still quite high tech.
Americas Cup website
Team New Zealand seem to be ahead of the game having achieved stability while flying their AC72 under sail. Team Oracle/USA have managed to briefly fly their AC72 catamaran but have not achieved the same level of stability as yet.
Sail World article with Team NZ AC72 foiling
In my personal opinion it's a bit disappointing that there are such a limited number of competitors in this America's Cup and I think in part it's due to the size and complexity of designing and constructing a 72' catamaran. If they were interested in maximising the number of competitors supplying the AC competitors with a generic platform ie the AC45 and allowing them to customise the wings and appendages may have been a better approach. Anyway I'm sure that Larry Ellison and Russel Coutts are not listening to my opinion on the issue but there it is.
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