The INEOS Britannia base opened its shutters just after 5 am on Saturday, revealing the latest AC75 to be unveiled for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup. The boat, codenamed RB3 for the past two-and-a-half years, is a sight to behold with its stunning, all-business paint job that accentuates the hull form in a way that tricks the eye.
The design and build of the boat represent the very best in innovation and detail, with a hull form that has been the talk of the town since its reveal. The British have gone for a step-up from their prototype boat 'T6', featuring a voluminous, integrated bustle in the bow with a small chine leading back along the keel-line to a razor-sharp edged lower bustle that stops a few feet from the stern.
The stern gantry is also a sight to see, with its beautifully sculpted design that screams Formula 1. The almost dead-flat stern run-off is unlikely to be touching the water in flight, which is the thinking, at least. The area that has been of much interest in this Cup cycle is the aero moulding of the deck, and here INEOS Britannia seems to have aced it.
The shutters opened at the INEOS Britannia base just after 5am on Saturday, and out into the moonlight under floodlight came the boat that all British fans hope will have the best chance of winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in 173 years Photo Cameron Gregory
The deck run-off aft is highly aero optimised, similar in form to both Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, but with perhaps slightly more 'tunnel'. The cyclor pods end with a gradual pinch that flows all the way to the transom, and the four pods either side look to be a big nod to aero. Up on the bow, there is considerable moulding that appears drop-nosed in form, undoubtedly the result of endless hours in simulations to create the perfect flow into the jibs.
Overall, the RB3 is a masterpiece in design and innovation, and British fans are hopeful it will give them the best chance of winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in 173 years.
