What's aviation giant Airbus got to do with yachts? A lot more than you think...
Airbus boats? —
What's aviation giant Airbus got to do with yachts? A lot more than you think...
Courtesy Airbus/S. Ramadier
The airplane manufacturer is joining forces with reigning America's Cup champions, Oracle Team USA, to create what it hopes will be an unbeatable yacht in 2017.
Airplanes on water? —
The airplane manufacturer is joining forces with reigning America's Cup champions, Oracle Team USA, to create what it hopes will be an unbeatable yacht in 2017.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/File
"They're as much like airplanes as they are like traditional boats, so I know we'll have a lot to learn from the engineers at Airbus," said team skipper Jimmy Spithill of today's high-tech multihulls.
Sky meets sea —
"They're as much like airplanes as they are like traditional boats, so I know we'll have a lot to learn from the engineers at Airbus," said team skipper Jimmy Spithill of today's high-tech multihulls.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Much like aircraft, today's America's Cup yachts have rigid sails, rather than conventional material ones.
Sail away —
Much like aircraft, today's America's Cup yachts have rigid sails, rather than conventional material ones.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/File
Overseeing the project will be billionaire businessman Larry Ellison, pictured holding last year's trophy aloft after a nailbiting win against Emirates Team New Zealand.
Ellison's endevour —
Overseeing the project will be billionaire businessman Larry Ellison, pictured holding last year's trophy aloft after a nailbiting win against Emirates Team New Zealand.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/File
With competing teams spending tens of millions of dollars on their America's Cup bids, Ellison -- a software entrepreneur with an <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fprofile%2Flarry-ellison%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">estimated fortune of $48 billion</a> -- will also be digging into his deep pockets to create a state-of-the-art yacht.
American dream —
With competing teams spending tens of millions of dollars on their America's Cup bids, Ellison -- a software entrepreneur with an estimated fortune of $48 billion -- will also be digging into his deep pockets to create a state-of-the-art yacht.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/File
Work has already begun collecting data on the Team USA boat, with over 300 on-board sensors providing real time information to a main server.
Battle of the multihulls —
Work has already begun collecting data on the Team USA boat, with over 300 on-board sensors providing real time information to a main server.
Ezra ShawGetty Images/File
Airbus will also be hoping to take away some valuable insights from the partnership. Already, the company has introduced a ridged texture much like shark's skin on its plane's wings, to improve air flow.
Aim high —
Airbus will also be hoping to take away some valuable insights from the partnership. Already, the company has introduced a ridged texture much like shark's skin on its plane's wings, to improve air flow.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/File
Watching developments closely will be the British challengers, led by four-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (pictured). In the 163 year history of the race, Britain has never won the prestigious silver trophy. Adding insult to injury, the first competition took place on its shores in 1851.
British challenge? —
Watching developments closely will be the British challengers, led by four-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (pictured). In the 163 year history of the race, Britain has never won the prestigious silver trophy. Adding insult to injury, the first competition took place on its shores in 1851.
Courtesy Ben Ainslie Racing
The British launched their $134 million bid earlier this year alongside the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who is also a keen sailor.
Royal seal of approval —
The British launched their $134 million bid earlier this year alongside the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who is also a keen sailor.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Today's lightweight designs are a long way from the hefty vessels that competed in the first race in 1851. Britain's Royal Yacht Squadron was left red-faced after the 30-meter schooner "America" defeated all 15 of its boats in a regatta around Southern England. The trophy then took pride of place in the New York Yacht Club and the competition was named as none other than the "America's Cup."
1851: The first cup —
Today's lightweight designs are a long way from the hefty vessels that competed in the first race in 1851. Britain's Royal Yacht Squadron was left red-faced after the 30-meter schooner "America" defeated all 15 of its boats in a regatta around Southern England. The trophy then took pride of place in the New York Yacht Club and the competition was named as none other than the "America's Cup."
Hulton Archive/Getty Images/File
Tea tycoon Thomas Lipton was the first to use the new J-class yachts, characterized by steel hulls and towering masts able to harness an enormous amount of sail power. In 1934, British pilot and yachtsman Tommy Sopwith launched his remarkable all-steel J-class yacht Endeavour to much fanfare (pictured).
1934: Lipton's steely determination —
Tea tycoon Thomas Lipton was the first to use the new J-class yachts, characterized by steel hulls and towering masts able to harness an enormous amount of sail power. In 1934, British pilot and yachtsman Tommy Sopwith launched his remarkable all-steel J-class yacht Endeavour to much fanfare (pictured).
A.Hudson/Getty Image/File
For the first time in the 132-year history of the race, America loses the Cup -- to Australia. The Aussies had a secret weapon -- a winged keel that gave their yacht, "Australia II," super-speed. They kept prying eyes away from the radical design by draping large "modesty skirts" around the boat when it was hauled from the water.
1983: Aussie ingenuity —
For the first time in the 132-year history of the race, America loses the Cup -- to Australia. The Aussies had a secret weapon -- a winged keel that gave their yacht, "Australia II," super-speed. They kept prying eyes away from the radical design by draping large "modesty skirts" around the boat when it was hauled from the water.
Getty Images/File
But with increased speed, has come safety concerns, with British Olympic sailing gold medalist Andrew "Bart" Simpson dying in May 2013 after his catamaran -- Sweden's "Artemis" -- capsized during training. Here, workers use a crane to lift the 22-meter boat from San Francisco Bay.
2013: Simpson's death —
But with increased speed, has come safety concerns, with British Olympic sailing gold medalist Andrew "Bart" Simpson dying in May 2013 after his catamaran -- Sweden's "Artemis" -- capsized during training. Here, workers use a crane to lift the 22-meter boat from San Francisco Bay.
Josh Edelson/Getty Images/File