Please select your home edition
Edition
Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025

America's Cup- Oracle Team USA under stress

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz on 27 May 2014
Neil Wilkinson working on the AC72 foil test bed - with the foil at rest - Oracle Team USA Guilain Grenier Oracle Team USA http://www.oracleteamusamedia.com/
Over the past three weeks, two NZ designers and engineers, Neil Wilkinson (Oracle Team USA) and Andy Kensington (Emirates Team NZ) have been on a lecture tour as part of the Institute of Professional Engineers NZ's centenary, sponsored by Beca.

Late last week, Sail-World published a summary of the key points of the lecture.

Missing were some additional images which were shown after the lecture concluded. Neil Wilkinson has kindly provided these images, which are in two sets.

The first set shows the test bed developed by Oracle Team USA after they broke their first set of foils (teams were allowed to make a maximum of 10 foils under the cost-restriction rules that governed the 34th America's Cup).

The test bed was developed by Oracle Team USA so that all foils could be tested off the boat, under the load conditions that were expected when sailing. As was described in the story from the lecture there was an upwards lift (the horizontal component on the test bed) of around 6000kgs and a side (vertical component on the test bed of 7000kgs). These forces combined to induce substantial deflection in the carbon foil which is apparent in these two shots.

(The images are actually of different foils, but the amount of deflection is essentially the same.)

As well as testing foils on this test bed, the teams also conducted structural testing on the platform, using similar techniques - anchoring one point of the platform, and then using a hoist to apply the expected load to various points of the platform.





The second set of images are a new view of Oracle Team USA, taken from a camera mounted on the top of the crane used to raise the wingsail and then the assembled AC into the water, showing the profile of the AC72 from a set position.







Our thanks to IPENZ and Beca

North Sails Loft 57 PodcastHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignTrofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025

Related Articles

49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 4
Bergmann with Wille keep their nerve to move into FX lead Olympic veterans in the 49erFX Marla Bergmann with Hanna Wille (GER) kept their nerve and used their speed to move into the lead, scoring the fewest points on day 4.
Posted on 6 Jun
Windies Multihull Trophy winners announced
Thirty multihulls competed across eighteen events from Barbados to the British Virgin Islands. With the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Caribbean Sailing Association's Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy results are in!
Posted on 6 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 4
Hutchinson adding the missing element as American Magic Quantum Racing close in on title Now holding a 13-points lead after today's two races contested at the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, American Magic Quantum Racing crew are on the cusp of completing their first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta win since victory in Barcelona in September 2022.
Posted on 6 Jun
Emirates GBR looking to bounce back
At the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said the team was "looking to bounce back" at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend, following a "tough time" at the back-to-back US events in LA and San Francisco in March.
Posted on 6 Jun
BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival 2026 dates
The event has moved forward a week from previously published dates For 2026, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival has moved the event forward a week from previously published dates to March 23-29.
Posted on 6 Jun
Rooster Sailing's 2025 Collection Just Dropped
From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers, the 2025 collection has been developed with real sailors, for real conditions.
Posted on 6 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage.
Posted on 6 Jun
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world.
Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race.
Posted on 5 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools.
Posted on 5 Jun