Restrictions on Size
Following World War II, the money available to invest in yachting had dwindled due to wartime losses. It was too expansive to keep building the large 23-meter plus boats. There were no races held between 1938 and 1957. So, when the America's Cup returned in 1958, the Twelve-Meter Class rule was implemented, making the boats smaller, lighter and faster. For the next 31 years, the Twelve-Meter rule was the standard.
Designing a Yacht
As the computer age into being in the 1980,a new stage evolved using cutting-edge design software. Specialist design companies and engineers designed prototype models of a boat. Using computer simulation, tems tested various forces acting on sailboat. If designers could reduce the underwater hydrodynamic forces (resistance) that act on a boat's then a boat could reduce drag and turn more quickly. These technological developments brought the Australians, New Zealand and Italians into the race, each with their own multi-million-dollar team.