Uploaded March 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For more on AIRBUS:
- Part 1 - Aviation challenges: youtu.be/IgowvQZ3JtE
- Part 2 - Aircraft design tools: youtu.be/G60rTDR6CPw
- Part 4 - America's Cup Aerodynamics (2/2): youtu.be/AdGuENBuZ-Y
In this third video in our series AIRBUS talks, we take a look at the aerodynamics of the America’s Cup boats.
History of the America’s Cup
The America’s Cup is the oldest sports competition in the world. The original race was between British & American ships, sailing around the Isle of Wight. The technology level is on par with Formula 1 and budgets are equally high.
In the last 3 America’s Cup, the contenders have used the foils to carry & lift the boat out of the water. Once the boat is lifted from the sea, it wins a lot of speed and aerodynamics become more important. Not just for the sails, but also for the entire platform:
- Detached flow from the crew
- Flow over cavities
AIRBUS can inject their expertise in these domains.
New challenges
With the hull coming out of the water, it becomes a relevant & active aerodynamic part. The biggest challenges AIRBUS had been to reduce the drag of the trampoline (which the crew uses to cross sides). Another challenge was to compare the drag of different hull shapes and crew positions.
Also, the interaction between components is very relevant. The front & rear beam connecting the left & right hull play a large role for the aerodynamics. They even apply vortex generators to reduce the drag!
Stay tuned for the fourth and last video, where we'll discuss the upcoming 36th edition of the America’s Cup!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AirShaper videos cover the basics of aerodynamics (aerodynamic drag, drag & lift coefficients, boundary layer theory, flow separation, reynolds number...), simulation aspects (computational fluid dynamics, CFD meshing, ...) and aerodynamic testing (wind tunnel testing, flow visualization, ...).
We then use those basics to explain the aerodynamics of (race) cars (aerodynamic efficiency of electric vehicles, aerodynamic drag, downforce, aero maps, formula one aerodynamics, ...), drones and airplanes (propellers, airfoils, electric aviation, eVTOLS, ...), motorcycles (wind buffeting, motogp aerodynamics, ...) and more!
For more information, visit airshaper.com
For more on AIRBUS:
- Part 1 - Aviation challenges: youtu.be/IgowvQZ3JtE
- Part 2 - Aircraft design tools: youtu.be/G60rTDR6CPw
- Part 4 - America's Cup Aerodynamics (2/2): youtu.be/AdGuENBuZ-Y
In this third video in our series AIRBUS talks, we take a look at the aerodynamics of the America’s Cup boats.
History of the America’s Cup
The America’s Cup is the oldest sports competition in the world. The original race was between British & American ships, sailing around the Isle of Wight. The technology level is on par with Formula 1 and budgets are equally high.
In the last 3 America’s Cup, the contenders have used the foils to carry & lift the boat out of the water. Once the boat is lifted from the sea, it wins a lot of speed and aerodynamics become more important. Not just for the sails, but also for the entire platform:
- Detached flow from the crew
- Flow over cavities
AIRBUS can inject their expertise in these domains.
New challenges
With the hull coming out of the water, it becomes a relevant & active aerodynamic part. The biggest challenges AIRBUS had been to reduce the drag of the trampoline (which the crew uses to cross sides). Another challenge was to compare the drag of different hull shapes and crew positions.
Also, the interaction between components is very relevant. The front & rear beam connecting the left & right hull play a large role for the aerodynamics. They even apply vortex generators to reduce the drag!
Stay tuned for the fourth and last video, where we'll discuss the upcoming 36th edition of the America’s Cup!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The AirShaper videos cover the basics of aerodynamics (aerodynamic drag, drag & lift coefficients, boundary layer theory, flow separation, reynolds number...), simulation aspects (computational fluid dynamics, CFD meshing, ...) and aerodynamic testing (wind tunnel testing, flow visualization, ...).
We then use those basics to explain the aerodynamics of (race) cars (aerodynamic efficiency of electric vehicles, aerodynamic drag, downforce, aero maps, formula one aerodynamics, ...), drones and airplanes (propellers, airfoils, electric aviation, eVTOLS, ...), motorcycles (wind buffeting, motogp aerodynamics, ...) and more!
For more information, visit airshaper.com
