We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our time. This time, the most successful female sailor in Olympic history, Hannah Mills, chooses the AC40.
“The AC40 is the coolest boat in the world because it’s like a little go-cart, super responsive. You can really rip it around the turns. You feel the Gs, but you’re tucked away. You feel like a Formula 1 driver when you’re sat there driving it around the racetrack.
“The autopilot’s bloody impressive on the 40s. It teaches you a lot, but equally it makes it really sailable for people who are new into the world of Cup-style fast foiling. That opens the doors for a lot more people to get onto that pathway.
Photo: Cameron Gregory/Athena
“There are lots of buttons to press and I was a bit worried it was going to change the sensation of sailing, but actually, you very quickly get really tuned in with that feeling.
“The racing is amazing. The boats get super-close and you’re ripping at speeds over 40 knots. I think we topped out at maybe 46. But quite quickly the speed gets normalised, Especially when you’re racing, you look down and suddenly see you’re going 43, 44 knots in a bear away and you didn’t even realise. They’re just epic!”
Article continues below…
AC40: The America’s Cup class’ younger sister
The 38th America’s Cup will be retaining the AC75 foiling monohull class for the actual Cup match in Naples, but…
Finally after 25 years, Australia is set to return to the America’s Cup
The rumours that have swirled around the sailing community for months, that there would once again be an Australian entrant…
AC40 Vital Statistics:
Top speed: 51.3 knots
LOA: 11.8m/39ft
Launched: 2022
Berths: 0
Price: £2.2 million
Adrenalin factor: 95%
Hannah Mills Bio
Hannah Mills. Photo: Cameron Gregory/Athena
Hannah Mills is the most successful female sailor in Olympic history, winning two golds and a silver in the 470 class.
She is skipper and team principal of Athena Pathway, the British Women’s and Youth America’s Cup team, strategist for Emirates GBR SailGP team, and spearheads the Women’s Pathway Programme within SailGP.
If you enjoyed this….
Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.
Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.