Sailing into the Future: How Technology is Transforming the America's Cup

Since the first America's Cup race in 1851, competitive sailing has dramatically evolved, largely thanks to groundbreaking technological advancements. What began as a contest of seamanship and strategy on traditional wooden yachts has become a cutting-edge battle of innovation, engineering, and high-speed sailing on advanced foiling vessels that seem to defy the laws of physics.

While the spirit of competition in sailing has remained the same, physical and digital technologies have taken the sport to extraordinary new heights, pushing the boundaries of what is possible on water.

From Wood to Carbon Fiber: a Revolution in Materials Science

In the early days of the America's Cup, yachts were crafted from wood and rigged with cotton sails. Today, the yachts are high-tech marvels built from advanced materials making them lighter, faster, and more responsive. Modern sails have even evolved into highly sophisticated, semi-rigid "wings" made from advanced materials like Mylar, Kevlar, and carbon fiber composites. These wing-sails are more akin to the wings of an airplane than the traditional cloth sails of old. Each AC75-class yacht used in the 2024 America’s cup is equipped with a wing-sail roughly the size of a Boeing 747 wing!

Left: The wooden schooner America which won the first edition of the race which would eventually bear its name, in 1851

Right: The AC75-class made of carbon fiber, graphene, Kevlar and other composites, used in the 37th America’s Cup in 2024

These innovations enable boats to harness more wind power while maintaining structural integrity, allowing sailors to reach unprecedented speeds. Modern material science has made competitive sailing not only faster but also more thrilling. Boats no longer just glide across the water—they now "fly" above it.

Hydrofoils: Sailing Above the Water

Perhaps the most striking technological innovation in competitive sailing is the introduction of hydrofoils. These underwater wings lift the boat out of the water at high speeds, reducing drag and enabling the vessel to "foil," or effectively fly above the waves. This allows America's Cup boats to reach incredible speeds, sometimes over 50 knots (90+ km/h).

Hydrofoils have done for sailing what aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fiber did for Formula 1 racing: they've completely transformed the sport, allowing for greater speed, precision, and a whole new level of excitement. Just as F1 cars push the limits of engineering on land, foiling boats now push the boundaries of what’s possible on water, setting new benchmarks and redefining what it means to race at sea.

Data and Analytics: The New Navigator

Just as athletes on land rely on data to optimize their performance, sailors in the America's Cup now use advanced technology to gain critical insights during races. Advanced onboard sensors, GPS tracking, and machine learning algorithms help teams make crucial split-second decisions. Boats are equipped with sophisticated software that monitors wind speeds, water currents, sail trim, and boat positioning in real time.

However, it's not only the teams on the water benefiting from technological advancements. At Capgemini we developed WindSight IQ in collaboration with the 37th America’s Cup to transform how fans can experience the race.

The system we built for the race utilizes LiDAR technology and sensor fusion to create real-time visualizations of wind conditions across the entire racecourse, showing fans what sailors experience but can’t always see: the wind. For the first time, viewers can track wind speeds, direction, and patterns as they shift during the race. It also allows commentators to predict strategies and explain why teams choose specific paths, simulating the optimal course a yacht should follow based on real-time data.

This innovation mirrors the impact of advanced tech in other sports, like the real-time biometric data seen in Olympic track events or VAR in football. Digital technology transforms sailing from a distant spectator sport into an engaging, data-rich experience, bringing the intricacies of the race closer to viewers worldwide.

AI and Autonomous Systems: The Future of Sailing?

The America's Cup is also beginning to see the influence of AI and autonomous systems. These technologies help teams predict environmental conditions and optimize boat performance during practice sessions. While humans still helm the boats, AI provides vital assistance by analyzing past races, simulating future scenarios, and suggesting the best maneuvers in rapidly changing conditions.

AI is starting to influence the preparation and strategy behind competitive sailing, making teams more efficient and effective. However, the human element remains central — as in many other fields, technology is an augmentation, not a replacement.

Charting a new course – how technology can elevate us

The modern America's Cup has embraced technology to evolve into a global spectacle that showcases not just human skill but also the very best of human innovation. From hydrofoils to AI-driven data analysis, the tools of competitive sailing have changed dramatically. Yet, at its core, the America’s Cup remains a test of determination, strategy, and teamwork.

Technology, in this context, does not replace the human element—it enhances it, enabling sailors to reach new heights in speed, precision, and performance. This should remind us all how far we’ve come and how much further we can go when we marry human ingenuity with cutting-edge technology.