Ben Ainslie Racing partners with Yamaha Motor in the UK

by Sarah Alexander on 17 Sep 2014 Today, Tuesday 16th September, Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) Team Principal, Sir Ben Ainslie, launched a new team partnership with Yamaha Motor in the UK. The occasion was the presentation of the first of the BAR team’s new 9.8m Scorpion Serket RIB chase boats, with twin Yamaha F225 engines, delivered at the Southampton Boat Show. Both Scorpion and Yamaha are working closely with the America’s Cup team to build bespoke vessels that concentrate on BAR’s core sustainability goals.

Yamaha, who already lead the way in fuel efficiency, are constantly striving for further improvements, making their engines lighter and leaner. Together with BAR, Yamaha will monitor the RPM and fuel efficiency of their engines and, working with the BAR shore team to record sea conditions and driver efficiency, the data will be analysed to drive further developments in engine and boat design.

Andy Pumfrey, New Business Divisional Manager, of Yamaha, commented, 'We are delighted to support Ben Ainslie Racing as the team embarks on the new challenge of bringing The America’s Cup home.

'Yamaha has been the outboard of choice for the British Sailing Team’s coaching RIBs for many years and for thousands of running hours, throughout Ben’s sailing career and many Olympic medal successes.

'Yamaha also brings its global experience from previous America’s Cup Campaigns so that together we set the benchmark for chase boats with the new Scorpion.'

Although a first collaboration for the team, Yamaha and Scorpion have had a working partnership for many years and Scorpion has been a supporter of BAR’s America’s Cup bid since 2012. Over the past year Scorpion has significantly researched the development of RIB hull design, resulting in high performance, safe, comfortable and efficient RIBs.

Scorpion’s Patrick Byrne commented on the partnership, 'We are thrilled to continue to work with Ben Ainslie Racing and launch the new Scorpion BAR Nine Eight today.

'Together we are setting a new standard in chase boats, the dry and comfortable handling of a Scorpion, powered by the reliability of Yamaha with the advantage of fitting straight into a container – reducing transport costs, ready for use anywhere in the world.'

Sir Ben Ainslie added, 'As well as being extremely reliable, versatile and adaptive, Scorpion and Yamaha are both innovative companies which makes for a really exciting partnership for BAR.

'We are looking to race sustainably for the America’s Cup and across the team, from sailing, design and shore side, we will work closely with them both to build and develop new technologies whilst delivering this goal.'

The new 9.8m chase boat will be on display at Yamaha berth M492, Southampton Boat Show for the rest of the week.