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F50 (catamaran)

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F50
A line drawing of the F50 with its standard twenty-four metre wingsail.
The American and Japanese SailGP F50s racing in New York Harbor at the New York Sail Grand Prix during the 2019 SailGP championship.
Development
Year2019
No. built10
DesignDevelopment, one-design
Builder(s)Core Builders Composites
NameF50
Boat
Crew5, weight limit 438 kg (966 lb)
Hull
TypeFoiling catamaran
LOA15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Beam8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
Rig
Rig typeWing and jib
Mast length18 m (59 ft) - 24 m (79 ft)
Class is a member of World Sailing
← AC50

[edit on Wikidata]

The F50 is a one-design foiling catamaran used in the SailGP race series. The name is an abbreviation of "Foiling" and "a hull length of 50 feet".[1] The F50s are adapted from the AC50s used in the America's Cup, with modifications including new control systems and modular wingsails.[2] The F50s are one of the fastest racing classes in history, with a predicted top speed of 52.2 knots (96.6 km/h, 60 mph);[3] the current F50 speed record, achieved by the France SailGP Team at the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix in 2022, stands at 53.96 knots (99.94 km/h, 62.10 mph).[4] On July 18 2024 Canada SailGP Team achieved a top speed of 55.06 knots (101.98 km/h, 63.37 mph) whilst testing new T-shaped foils, to replace L-shaped foils, in San Francisco.[5]

Three AC50s from the 2017 America's Cup were converted to comply with the F50 one-design rule to create the new SailGP fleet racing circuit.[6] Three more boats were built from scratch by Core Builders Composites to create an initial fleet of six boats crewed by teams from the United States, Australia, France, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom.[7] For the 2020 SailGP championship, the Spain SailGP team used the F50 of the China SailGP team after their departure.[8] A seventh F50 was commissioned for the Denmark SailGP team, which also joined for the 2020 SailGP championship.[9] In the fourth season the fleet grew to 10 boats, with two more expected for the fifth season.[10]

Specifications

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The F50s use a two-element wingsail and jib for propulsion. One removable section in the wing can be used to achieve mast heights of 18 m (59 ft) and 24 m (79 ft) to suit wind conditions.[11] By the third event of the 2021-22 SailGP championship, SailGP plans to introduce a 29 m wingsail for use in extremely light conditions.[12] In SailGP regattas, the mast height, jib, and equipment are selected in competitions by the Tech Team Operations Manager, following a consultation with the Regatta Director and representatives from each team.[3]

Apart from the wingsheet, which is powered by two grinders, all trimming is hydraulically powered by electric motors and lithium-ion batteries.[2] This includes active pitch control of all appendages, daggerboard lifting/lowering, and the jibsheet. The reduction of one grinding position on board therefore allows the F50s to sail with just five crew. The geometry of the F50's daggerboards have been extended outside the maximum beam of the boat to provide more righting moment.[3][13]

The F50s comprise a one-design development class. However, unlike most one-design sail classes with fixed rules, the F50s are being constantly developed with changes implemented on all boats at the same time. This prevents technological arms races, while allowing performance improvements.[14]

Crew

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The F50s have a crew of six, consisting of a helmsman, wing trimmer, flight controller, two grinders and a strategist.[15] The flight controller controls the F50 using a double twist-grip device, which enables more accurate adjustment of the rake of the daggerboard. This relieves the helmsman, who previously flew the boat using twist-grips on the wheel, of flight control duties - allowing them to focus on tactics.[16] Additionally, the F50s have active control of the rudder pitch; crews are no longer required to set and lock off the rudder pitch before the start of each race, as was the case with the AC50s in the 2017 America's Cup.[6] While racing, crews stay in the windward hull.

F50s in culture

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F50s were featured in Christopher Nolan's Tenet (2020). The scene featuring them was filmed in August 2019, following the 2019 Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Cowes. The F50s belonging to the Japan and United States SailGP teams were used, with each being rebranded and painted white and blue respectively.[17] Rome Kirby and Tom Slingsby were two of the athletes involved in the filming of the scene.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Fretter, Helen (4 October 2018). "The $1million match race: Ellison and Coutts unveil SailGP circuit for 50ft foiling catamarans Fretter Helen". Yachting World. Future plc. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b "SailGP F50: On board the sailing equivalent of a Formula 1 racecar". Yachting World. 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  3. ^ a b c "SailGP Explained // The F50". SailGP. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  4. ^ "RELIVE THE BEST MOMENTS OF THE RANGE ROVER FRANCE SAIL GRAND PRIX". SailGP. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Blazeby, Miranda (2024-07-18). "CANADA F50 BREAKS SAILGP SPEED RECORD IN SAN FRANCISCO T-FOIL TESTING". SailGP. Archived from the original on 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  6. ^ a b "SailGP F50 v America's Cup AC50 catamarans". Yacht Racing Life. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  7. ^ New, G. J. (16 January 2019). "Building the New SailGP F50". Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  8. ^ "SailGP". SailGP. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  9. ^ "SailGP announces Denmark SailGP Team presented by ROCKWOOL to join world-class lineup for Season 2". SailGP. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  10. ^ Bolle, Lars. "Profisegeln: Wird der SailGP die neue Formel 1?". YACHT - Alles rund ums Segeln (in German). Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  11. ^ "All about SailGP's new adjustable F50 wing". SailGP. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  12. ^ "The sport's best athletes go head-to-head as SailGP kicks off | www.pressmare.it". pressmare.it. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  13. ^ The supercharged F50s, SAILGP, 2018-10-03
  14. ^ F50 arms race, SAILGP, 2019-05-01
  15. ^ "World's Most Advanced Hydrofoil Boats Fly Above Water". YouTube. CNET. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  16. ^ "Back to flight school". SailGP. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  17. ^ "SailGP makes its Hollywood debut". SailGP. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  18. ^ "On the set of Tenet". SailGP. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
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