All America's Cup teams unveil their boats ahead of competition starting in August 

Orient Express Racing Team last challenger to christen brand-new AC75 sailboat 

The French Orient Express Team revealed their brand-new AC75 sailing yacht to the public
The French Orient Express Team revealed their brand-new AC75 sailing yacht to the public / Ona Van Dyck Colomer

Ona Van Dyck Colomer | Barcelona

May 29, 2024 03:25 PM

May 29, 2024 05:03 PM

Orient Express Racing Team from France has unveiled their boat for the upcoming 37th America's Cup, the oldest international sports competition in the world, taking place in Barcelona from August until October. 

In a big celebration with the team's sponsors and various media outlets the French team also introduced the athletes who will be competing in the America's Cup, the men's edition, but also the women and youth teams.

The six teams have now unveiled all their sailboats to the public, which are AC75 class yachts. These yachts are made for high-performance competitive racing. According to the rules of the competition, every team needs to have an AC75 yacht in order to participate in a fair race. 

 

Title defender's boat 

Emirates Team New Zealand is the defending champion since winning the previous America's Cup in 2021. The sailing team's boat has been given the name 'Taihoro', which means 'To move swiftly as the sea between both sky and earth', a fitting name for the current champions of this prestigious sailing competition. 

New Zealand Emirates Team's boat, called 'Taihoro'
New Zealand Emirates Team's boat, called 'Taihoro' / Emirates Team New Zealand

It took a team of 45 workers ten months and 85,000 building hours to finish the red-cyan-black boat with white accents. The boat was christened by former New Zealand Prime Minister and Emirates Team New Zealand Patron Helen Clark. 

Challengers' boats 

The Orient Express Racing Team from France was the last team to unveil their brand-new boat, bearing the same name as the team. The royal blue boat, with a thin gold stripe, is the sistership of New Zealand's boat. A total of 46,000 working hours by 65 people went into building the French sailors' AC75. 

The ship was christened with champagne on Wednesday morning, surrounded by the team and various media outlets. The deck is painted white to reflect the heat from the Mediterranean summer sun. 

Earlier in May the New York Yacht Club American Magic team also revealed their boat, "Patriot", to the public early in the morning, surrounded by the athletes' families. The team's desire for victory is clear in the radical design of their boat. 

The team will try to win the America's Cup back from New Zealand with an asymmetrical design, needing more thought and evaluation before making final decisions on their race foil set-up. 

'Patriot', the boat of the New York Yacht Club American Magic team
'Patriot', the boat of the New York Yacht Club American Magic team / America's Cup / AC37 Event Limited

INEOS Britannia, the British team, their boat is called 'RB3'. The deck is highly optimized for the best aerodynamics. While the bow might remind people of the design of a Formula 1 car, it is designed to create the perfect flow into the jibs. 

The British boat is painted black with white circles and has red accents, to accentuate the curvature of the hull form and tricks the eye with its detailed design.

INEOS Britannia's boat 'RB3'
INEOS Britannia's boat 'RB3' / Job Vermeulen/ America's Cup

Switzerland's own Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team boat is called 'BoatZero' and designed by the Spanish Marcelina Botin and his team. The boat uses Red Bull's advanced technologies and the brand's design. 

The super-aerodynamic cockpit, the bumps in the foredeck forming a tunnel and low-profile bow of the ship make it perfect for a fast competition and chance at winning the America's Cup. 

The Swiss AC75 yacht, designed by Marcelina Botin
The Swiss AC75 yacht, designed by Marcelina Botin / Ugo Fonollá / America's Cup

'Tifosi' is the name of the boat the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team will be using this summer to compete. The team, who have been preparing for 18 months, will use a slim boat, with a sharp bow and naked, transparent carbon deck.  

The Italians will go all out to win the America's Cup and take the title home to the Island of Sardinia, with their grey boat with red and yellow details, choosing for a simple design to brave the sea and come out on top in October's final. 

'Tifosi' with a transparent carbon deck to take the Luna Rossa Pirelli Team to victory
'Tifosi' with a transparent carbon deck to take the Luna Rossa Pirelli Team to victory / America's Cup / AC37 Event Limited

Filling the Sink podcast episode 

For more information on the America's Cup that will take over Barcelona during the summer, check out our Filling the Sink podcast episode here.