The next generation
The design philosophy for the Forty (1) Design was to start with a clean sheet of paper, applying our advanced design technology to arrive at the fastest concept and shape.
A particular feature of the combined CFD and numerical optimisation technology we have developed, is that an essentially unlimited number of shapes can be explored within a reasonable space of time, a technique which contrasts dramatically with traditional yacht design optimisation which typically starts with a known reference point and makes incremental steps towards an improved solution, one tweak at a time and quite likely never arriving at a truly optimal solution in the lifetime of a box rule.
Coming from a background of other racing rules and Americas Cup, every aspect of the design has been looked at with fresh eyes, from the point of view of performance, rule constraints and practicality, finding many gains which individually might not be large but together become very worthwhile. The sail-plan has been through a major CFD optimisation process, internal structure has been optimised in close conjunction with interior stacking ergonomics, great lengths have been taken to minimise the actual VCG within the rules’ 90 degrees RM constraint.
An over view of some of the work completed includes:
The assessment of in excess of 70,000 potential hull shapes.
The laser scanning and performance analyses of the teams current Akilaria 2 allowing for direct comparisons with a known bench mark. (Polar comparisons reveal remarkable deltas and testament to the amount of progress made with this design.)
Detailed investigation in conjunction with the Concise team and their weather routers to determine appropriate performance weighting for each of the major Class 40 races/regattas.
A full RANS based sail plan optimisation study in collaboration with the North Sails Design Group and running on the Wolfson Units Super Cluster.
A ground up review of the Class 40 rules determining where the rules can be used to bring advantages.
A new and unique structural concept design.
Jason Ker
Pfff…está muy bárbaro!