America’s Cup defender Oracle Team USA races two AC72 in training

Amaze your friends! Astound your enemies…   Know your AC72 design details.

You will see a lot of OTUSA in house racing and training leading up to the America’s Cup Match. Learn to tell their AC72’s apart and impress your friends with your expert knowledge!

So, how do you tell their AC72 catamarans apart?

After destroying their first wing in October 2012 when they pitchpoled and were washed out the Golden Gate on the tide, OTUSA has built two more wings. Wing 2 is installed in the repaired Boat 1. Boat 2 has Wing 3. Got that?  Tell the two OTUSA AC72s apart, look closely at…

Daggerboard location & wing ribs

AC72 boat 1 has its daggerboards forward of the main beam. On boat 2 they are aligned with the main beam. One of the ribs in the wing on AC72 boat 1 is slightly thicker – just above the PUMA logo.

OTUSA’s AC72’s have different structure underneath

Unlike all the other teams’ AC72’s, OTUSA has no diagonal rods. Their AC72 design emphasizes low aerodynamic drag. Some of the structure is hidden in a “pod” that extends the wing’s effect below the boat. On AC72 boat 1, the pod is bigger and there are two vertical struts. AC72 boat 2 has a smaller pod and only one strut. The smaller pod does not block the helmsman’s view of the leeward hull the way the big pod on AC72 boat 1 does. You may hear the struts called by the more colorful but politically incorrect term “dolphin striker.” 

Now you are an AC72 expert!

Coming soon – a look at all the teams’ AC72’s and differences among them. Any questions? Use the Ask Jack page to send them my way.