A group of budding nautical engineers in Year 7 were delighted to spend the day with the 1851 Trust at the INEOS TEAM UK headquarters in Portsmouth on Monday 9th December.
The students had great fun discovering how technology can help develop a bespoke yacht and support the skills of a talented crew on the ocean to give that essential extra edge in the world’s oldest sporting competition, the America’s Cup.
INEOS Team UK is led by Sir Ben Ainslie and comprises a group of highly successful professionals from the sailing community including their CEO Grant Simmer, who has won the America’s Cup four times. Their aim is to achieve the first ever British victory in the race around the Isle of Wight. Over the past 168 years the race has been dominated by the United States with just three other successful nations: New Zealand, Australia and Switzerland.
The students spent the morning session with INEOS understanding how the specialist boat was designed and made to incorporate bespoke foils that allow it to rise out of the water and the manufacturing process which used new materials to develop a hull that is tough, lightweight and optimised for racing. After lunch they were set a coding challenge which tasked them with navigating their boats from one point to another around a series of obstacles, and against the clock.
“I have enjoyed the challenges on the grinders and pushing myself to the limit. I also enjoyed coding and learning about the angles.” Commented Niamh.
“I enjoyed trying new things and in the future I’d like to learn more about the America’s Cup and designing the boat.” Added Cali.
The group were fortunate enough to meet the Cup crew which included an Olympic Gold Medallist. Oscar was awed by the experience, “I have enjoyed meeting a Gold Medallist rower and I am interested in how the spies work.”
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