This top-level international competition is in some ways a sequel to the 2017 America’s Cup, which saw the consecration of the AC50 - foiling catamarans with a rigid wing for a sail. It looked like these little rocket ships had no future with the advent of the AC75... but that’s when Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, and multi-medal-winning champion Russell Coutts, came up with the idea of converting these boats into a one-design class, the F50. Initially, three AC50s from the 2017 America’s Cup were converted to comply with the new one-design rule, and these were followed by other catamarans by Core Builders Composites in Warkworth, New Zealand, to build a complete fleet: the SailGP circuit was born! The idea is all about racing in spectacular bodies of water where the public can easily watch these speed machines that are capable of exceeding 50 knots... It should be pointed out that the F50 rules are constantly being optimized and improved - simultaneously on all the catamarans, of course! Multihulls World is heading off on your behalf to investigate the Third Act of Season 4 in Saint-Tropez...
Full report to follow in MW194
