In December, the competing nations will launch their race boats for next year's America's Cup in Bermuda.
Sailing in to battle —
In December, the competing nations will launch their race boats for next year's America's Cup in Bermuda.
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Each vessel will be 50 feet long, weighing 2.4 tons and crewed by six sailors -- but the technological innovations will remain a jealously-guarded secret.
Racing certainties —
Each vessel will be 50 feet long, weighing 2.4 tons and crewed by six sailors -- but the technological innovations will remain a jealously-guarded secret.
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Groupama Team France's yacht takes flight as it races in Portsmouth in July. The 2015-16 World Series has allowed teams to gather racing data from the AC45 catamarans as they fine-tune the AC50 designs.
Why data could be king —
Groupama Team France's yacht takes flight as it races in Portsmouth in July. The 2015-16 World Series has allowed teams to gather racing data from the AC45 catamarans as they fine-tune the AC50 designs.
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The race boats will be able to reach top speeds in excess of 45 knots (50 mph).
Fast work —
The race boats will be able to reach top speeds in excess of 45 knots (50 mph).
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Oracle Team USA (pictured in Portsmouth) will defend its title in Bermuda.
Team performance —
Oracle Team USA (pictured in Portsmouth) will defend its title in Bermuda.
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SoftBank Team Japan is the island nation's first flagged challenger since 2000.<br />
Long wait —
SoftBank Team Japan is the island nation's first flagged challenger since 2000.
Paul Cunningham - Corbis/Corbis Sport/Corbis via Getty Images
Sweden's Artemis Racing team will be hoping to improve on its 2013 effort, when it failed to get past the challenger series. <a target="_blank">Artemis won September's leg of the World Series in Toulon.</a>
Swede success? —
Sweden's Artemis Racing team will be hoping to improve on its 2013 effort, when it failed to get past the challenger series. Artemis won September's leg of the World Series in Toulon.
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Ben Ainslie's Land Rover BAR team was a popular winner of the series event at its home port of Portsmouth.
Home hero —
Ben Ainslie's Land Rover BAR team was a popular winner of the series event at its home port of Portsmouth.
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Ainslie's team is hoping its hi-tech approach -- which includes the use of artificial intelligence -- will make it the first from Britain to win the America's Cup competition, which began in 1851.
Intelligence test —
Ainslie's team is hoping its hi-tech approach -- which includes the use of artificial intelligence -- will make it the first from Britain to win the America's Cup competition, which began in 1851.
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