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America\u2019s Cup test boat hits the waves<\/p>\n
20 Apr 2016<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
READY TO FLY: The British America\u2019s Cup team, Land Rover BAR, has launched T3 – the third in a series of testing boats.<\/p>\n
T3 will further the team\u2019s testing capability, building on the already developed T2 launched in October 2015 and T1, launched the previous year.<\/p>\n
Ben Ainslie, team principal and skipper, said: \u201cT3 is another fantastic piece of technology from our designers, engineers, shore team and key suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The rules also define much of the hull shape and structure, making wing and hydrofoil control systems one of the key technology battlegrounds.<\/p>\n
Just as wire cable linkages between the accelerator pedal and the carburettor in cars have been replaced by sensors and electronics; aboard T3, the ropes previously used to control the sails have now been replaced by hydraulics and electronics.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
T3 will sail from the team’s home in Portsmouth, with a full development and testing programme to conduct throughout the summer.<\/p>\n
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