The Billion-Dollar Game of Rock Paper Scissors: Strategy in the 37th America's Cup

The Era of Continuity

Victory in the

isn't just won on the water; it’s won in the design office years before the starting gun. For the first time in nearly two decades, we have continuity.
Emirates Team New Zealand
retained the cup, meaning the
AC75
returns for a second iteration. This isn't just about reusing old boats; it's a high-stakes strategic race where every decision regarding hull shape and foil span dictates the eventual champion.

Evolution of the AC75 V2

The second version of the

is a leaner, more aggressive machine. Engineers slashed the crew from ten to eight and replaced traditional hand grinders with
cyclors
. By reducing the overall weight to 6,900kg and increasing the foil span to 4.5 meters, designers have optimized for earlier takeoffs and higher speeds. However, the rule permits only one new hull. Teams have one shot to get their modeling right. There is no room for error when you cannot build a second hull to correct a failed design philosophy.

The Legacy and the LEQ12

To bridge the gap, teams utilize "Legacy" boats from the previous cycle. These V1 hulls allow crews to practice layouts, but they are restricted; you cannot test new hydrodynamic packages on old hulls. This led to the rise of the

(Less or Equal to 12 meters). These test platforms are the wild west of development. While teams like
INEOS Britannia
and
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
build their own bespoke test mules to control their data, others rely on the
AC40
—a one-design platform supplied by the defender.

The Billion-Dollar Game of Rock Paper Scissors: Strategy in the 37th America's Cup
Americas Cup Boats Explained

Strategic Implications for Barcelona

Choosing between a custom

and the standard
AC40
is a massive tactical trade-off. Building your own boat develops manufacturing expertise but drains resources. Using the
AC40
provides immediate reliability but puts money and data into the hands of the defender. In
Barcelona 2024
, we will finally see which gamble paid off.

The Billion-Dollar Game of Rock Paper Scissors: Strategy in the 37th America's Cup

Fancy watching it?

Watch the full video and context

2 min read