T2: A fighter jet on water
by Land Rover BAR 6 Oct 2015 11:15 BST
6 October 2015
Land Rover BAR launch its latest testing boat 'T2' © Alex Palmer
The British America's Cup challenger, Land Rover BAR, has launched its latest testing boat – T2 – at their home in Portsmouth. This boat will increase the momentum already developed with the initial launch of 'T1' last October. It's the next stage in the relentless pursuit of technological excellence that will culminate in the design and build of the final race boat to challenge for the America's Cup in 2017.
- T2 is designed to drive forward a new era of British maritime design and technology
- The boat uses the latest technology from both the aerospace and automotive industries to create the marine equivalent of a fighter jet
- T2 will fly on foils the size of a wakeboard, whilst lifting the weight of a fully occupied London taxi
Ben Ainslie; Team Principal and Skipper, four times Olympic gold medallist and America's Cup winner: "T2 is an extraordinary achievement; everyone on the design, engineering and shore teams have put everything they have got into this boat. Power is nothing without control, and there has been no compromise in the pursuit of both. All of the sailing team are grateful and privileged to get the opportunity to test fly this unique craft."
Andy Claughton; Land Rover BAR Chief Technology Officer and two times America's Cup winner:
"This is the most technologically advanced sailing boat I've ever been involved with. It's the vital next step on our path to developing the boat that will challenge for the America's Cup, containing some of the most innovative and powerful technology ever used in this competition."
T2 represents a significant step towards the team's pursuit of power and speed; driving forward a new era of British maritime design and technology.
The design combines ideas and concepts previously only found in aerospace and automotive technologies, uniquely, T2 combines the raw power of carbon fibre hydrofoils and a wing sail with sophisticated electronic flight control systems.
Land Rover BAR will continue test sailing in the Solent throughout the winter. Next week the team will fly to Bermuda for the final Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series event of the year (17th and 18th October).
land-rover-bar.americascup.com