Confusion won’t help sell this boat

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
The 2013 America’s Cup initiated a significant shift, trading monohulls for catamarans on San Francisco Bay. While the AC72 broke new ground in performance as it introduced foiling to the world, it broke a lot of eggs along the way.

The USA defender capsized and nearly destroyed their boat. A capsize by the Swedish challenger led to a fatality. Chris Draper, helm for the Italian Luna Rossa team, said it “was like driving a formula one car with an overpowering engine and crappy tires.”

Despite Kiwi America’s Cup legend Ray Davies considering the AC72 as one of the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, use of these boats stopped after their last race in 2013. They were never sailed again, all buried for good reason.

So it was of some surprise that Italian boat builder Advanced Yachts chose to name their new luxury 72-foot cruising catamaran the AC72. While it is a world away from the America’s Cup boat of the same name, and is designed by renown Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design, why would they pollute the branding of their elegant creation? Confusion won’t help sell this boat.