America’s Cup 2017: Surrogate Yachts
Last updated: 5 February 2015, by Jack Griffin
In 1992, both the challenger – Italian syndicate Il Moro di Venezia – and the defender – Bill Koch’s America3 – had five America’s Cup yachts for test and development. The rules for 2017 attempt to hold down expenses by limiting challengers to one AC62. The defender may build a second AC62 but must race the first one. The rules also forbid sailing “surrogate yachts” – defined as multihulls over 33 feet (10 meters) long. There is an exception: teams may sail up to four boats based on the AC45.
The exception: It’s not a surrogate if the hulls are shaped like an AC45
The Protocol for the 35th America’s Cup allows almost unlimited testing as long as the test boat has the same lower hull shape as an AC45, as your editor explains here and here. Teams will need at least one standard, class legal AC45 to race in the America’s Cup World Series. They can build up to three more boats with no limits on wings, foils, crossbeams and systems, as long as the lower part of the hulls have the same shape as AC45 hulls.
