After the nail-biting excitement of the past two years of qualifying races, the main event is nearly upon us! We’re counting the days until the 2017 America’s Cup which will take place soon in Bermuda. On May 26th, racing starts with the best sailors on the fastest boats. The winner – the top Challenger will meet Defending Champions Oracle Team USA for the oldest trophy in international sport.
Ulysse Nardin will be in Bermuda to support its partners, the Swedish Artemis Racing sailing team, as they give their all in a bid to win the 35th America’s Cup. Artemis Racing, and their new race yacht Magic Blue, christened on last February in Bermuda, represent the powerful values of technical expertise, pioneering spirit and precision performance; values shared with the Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin.
The new America’s Cup Class (ACC) yacht, which measures at 15m (or 49.2ft), is a development from the AC72s raced in San Francisco, retaining the wing sail and hydrofoils, which enable them to fly over the water at incredible speeds.
The design differences, or areas left for the teams to explore and innovate in the new Class, lie in the design of the appendages (foils and rudders), aerodynamics, and the onboard hydraulic and electronic control systems. The hydraulic systems are required to be completely powered by human effort and combine traditional sailboat engineering with aerospace technology.
The change of venue to Bermuda brings a host of new challenges with the varied, shifty conditions. The America’s Cup is the most prestigious sailing competition in the world. This summer’s event is expected to be the most competitive and exciting America’s Cup in recent history.
