In December, the competing nations will launch their race boats for next year's America's Cup in Bermuda. Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
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. Paul Cunningham - Corbis/Corbis Sport/Corbis via Getty Images
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. Paul Cunningham - Corbis/Corbis Sport/Corbis via Getty Images
The race boats will be able to reach top speeds in excess of 45 knots (50 mph). Paul Cunningham - Corbis/Corbis Sport/Corbis via Getty Images
Oracle Team USA (pictured in Portsmouth) will defend its title in Bermuda. Paul Cunningham - Corbis/Corbis Sport/Corbis via Getty Images
SoftBank Team Japan is the island nation's first flagged challenger since 2000.
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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. Lloyd Images
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. Lloyd Images