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America’s Cup test boat hits the waves

20 Apr 2016

Land Rover BAR launches the latest in its America’s Cup test boats at the team headquarters in Portsmouth. Photo: Rick Tomlinson/Land Rover BAR

READY TO FLY: The British America’s Cup team, Land Rover BAR, has launched T3 – the third in a series of testing boats.

T3 will further the team’s testing capability, building on the already developed T2 launched in October 2015 and T1, launched the previous year.

Ben Ainslie, team principal and skipper, said: “T3 is another fantastic piece of technology from our designers, engineers, shore team and key suppliers.”

“It’s terrific to see the step changes we have made each time we launch a new boat. This is a new team, but it’s growing up fast. Really fast,” he added.

The rules only allow the team to build one full-size 50 foot America’s Cup Class boat, however, the team can build shorter (45 foot) versions as test boats.

The rules also define much of the hull shape and structure, making wing and hydrofoil control systems one of the key technology battlegrounds.

Just as wire cable linkages between the accelerator pedal and the carburettor in cars have been replaced by sensors and electronics; aboard T3, the ropes previously used to control the sails have now been replaced by hydraulics and electronics.

Richard Hopkirk, head of systems and analysis at Land Rover BAR, said: “This boat will allow us to test and develop across all the key areas that will impact our ultimate performance, it’s a critical progression in the search for fast, stable and continuous flight,” he added.

T3 will sail from the team’s home in Portsmouth, with a full development and testing programme to conduct throughout the summer.

via Boating Business | America’s Cup test boat hits the waves.