TRANSPORT
“The mast and sails use aircraft tech to create an efficient aerofoil shape”
Able to hit speeds in excess of 20 knots (37km/h; 23mph) the Oracle AC45 was used in both 2011 and 2012’s America’s Cup
Next-gen racing yachts
Manufactured using aircraft technology, today’s racing yachts have the ability to sail faster than the wind thanks to a unique balancing act Modern racing yachts take the latest aircraft technology to build the lightest and fastest sailboats. Weight is critical to performance, but just like a plane, the stresses are also very high so designers have to find the critical balance between the lightest weight and the maximum strength. Advanced composites combining carbon fibre, Kevlar and epoxy resins are blended and then cooked in a vast ‘oven’ for the optimum shell. The top racing catamarans are the ultimate sailboats for performance because their slim
072 | How It Works
hulls are the most efficient in terms of resistance. Their stability comes from the wide beam and they need no ballast keel to balance the boat against wind pressure. To reduce resistance further they have foils on fins below the hull that generate lift to bring the hull clear of the water so they glide across the waves. The mast and sails also use aircraft tech to create an efficient aerofoil shape. Sails are made from exotic fibres such as a polyester film laminated over a carbon-fibre base for high strength and a smooth surface. On racing
catamarans the sails are matched to a wing mast that is part of the required aerofoil shape which allows the yacht to sail upwind at speed. Actually sailing these yachts is also a great balancing act. The hull on the windward side comes completely clear of the water and the helmsman has to balance the stability against the wind pressure to power the yacht forward. On the most advanced racing catamarans speeds of 40 knots (74 kilometres/46 miles per hour) are possible, making for both very exciting and very demanding racing. WWW.HOWITWORKSDAILY.COM
