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Boats and Crews Quick Facts
Holders Team New Zealand and challengers Prada Challenge of Italy will contest the 30th America's Cup match from Saturday in International America's Cup Class (IACC) yachts. IACC boats are designed in accordance with rules which set minimum and maximum limits for length, sail area and weight. The class was introduced for the America's Cup in San Diego in 1992. The typical approximate dimensions of an IACC yacht are: Length overall: 24 metres Length on waterline: 18 metres Beam: 4.1 metres Draught: 4.0 metres Mast height: 32.5 metres Sail area (upwind): 320 sq metres (downwind): 480 sq metres Displacement (weight): 25 tonnes Team New Zealand will defend the Cup in their black-hulled boat with the sail number NZL 60. Prada will race their grey-hulled boat with the sail number ITA 45. Their boat is named Luna Rossa. Each boat will carry a 16-man crew with a 17th person on board as an observer. The key crew positions include: Helmsman -- Steers the boat. Usually the skipper, he makes the final decisions. Navigator -- Uses on-board computers, laser guns and other equipment to make sure the boat is on the correct course between marks and the start/finish line. Tactician -- Takes account of on-board information and watches wind and water conditions. Tries to judge tactics of the opposing boat as well as pick shifts in wind and weather conditions to advise the skipper on the best moves. Mainsail trimmer -- Always watching that the mainsail is at its optimum trim or shape and angle to the wind. Constantly looking up at "tell-tales" or small swatches of thread attached to the sail. Also keeps an eye on boat speed and wind strength and works with grinders to control the sail. Headsail trimmer -- Watches the headsails and also works with grinders. Grinders -- A job requiring great strength and fitness. Grinders work the handles that control winches to raise, lower and trim sails. Pitman -- Works below deck, pulling out sails for sail changes and taking in the spinnaker to repack it. Mastman -- Starts the hauling up of sails with grinders and connects spinnaker pole to the mast. Bowman -- Makes sure the headsails are free of the mast and clears dropped sails from the foredeck. Also an important look-out point for passing information back to the afterguard.

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