Carrying the history of the America’s Cup

America’s Cup defender New York Yacht Club had won the 1937 edition in J Class yachts, but World War II, and the economic struggle that followed, failed to produce another challenge. Seeking to jump-start the event, the defender shifted to the 12 Meter Class, and the ball was rolling again in 1958.

Ten events followed, with spectacular action in 1987 in the strong winds of Fremantle, Australia. But with the USA win moving the venue to the lighter winds of San Diego, a collection of leading yacht designers created the International Americas Cup Class (IAAC) in which the measurement rule offered a larger, more powerful yacht to suit the conditions.

The IAAC proved popular for five events, with 11 challengers for the 2007 edition, but the America’s Cup then slid into a chaotic period in which the next four events had new boat types, each more complex than the next. The design teams for the AC75 to be used in 2024 now rely as much (or more) on air and auto specialists as they do on naval architecture.

While today’s boats have a limited lifespan, the 12 Meter Class has carried the history of the America’s Cup with continued competition, and will be doing so again at its 2024 World Championship on June 17-23 in the waters off Hyères, France.

It will be a busy summer in the Mediterranean Sea, with the 2024 Olympic Sailing events to follow on July 28-August 9 in Marseille, France. Then all attention will turn to the 37th America’s Cup to be contested from August 29 in Barcelona, Spain.

But it all begins as 20 12 Meters are expected to vie for the World title, with more than 10 nations represented.

“For the crew of Nyala, the world championship will be the highlight and the goal of the season.,” said Brazilian Torben Grael, five-time Olympic medalist and tactician aboard the Italian 12mR Nyala owned by Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of Prada. “We’re already training with the whole crew.”

Marc Pajot, Olympic medalist and four-time America’s Cup competitor, will be helmsman in the Grand Prix category on French Kiss. “We’re going to have a great battle with boats from 1987 like Kiwi Magic, White Crusader, and Kookaburra. All the owners and crews are highly motivated.”

Olympian Bruno Troublé, who has a long involvement with the America’s Cup, is looking forward to the occasion. “We’re lucky enough to have quite a few boats coming over from the United States. In 2024, there are plenty of reasons to be in Europe, particularly with the America’s Cup. We’re going to have the biggest gathering of 12mR boats we’ve ever had.”

Details: https://12mrworlds.com/