British America’s Cup team Ineos Britannia launches T6 test boat

The British America’s Cup team, Ineos Britannia, has launched its first test boat for the 37th America’s Cup.

Code-named T6, the boat is designed and built in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG F1 Applied Science, a division of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.

The 40ft test boat will play a vital role in the team’s programme through to the next America’s Cup, to be raced in Barcelona in summer 2024. T6’s work will commence with an extensive testing period, primarily aimed at validating the team’s design tools and testing key components ahead of the design deadline to start the build of the team’s AC75 race boat.

James Allison, chief technical officer of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, comments: “We understand from our F1 experience the vital importance of creating the best suite of tools for designing and engineering the vehicle. We also understand the crucial role that validation plays in improving and coming to trust those tools. T6 has been designed for that purpose, and we’re all looking forward to getting to grips with the data she can provide.

“A huge thanks and congratulations to the team for getting T6 on the water, but in the cup game, we can’t rest on one’s laurels; the challenge has only just begun.”

Ben Ainslie, Ineso Britannia CEO and skipper adds: “We came out of AC36 lacking confidence in our design tools, we made key design decisions in the last cup using our design tools and our simulation, and they weren’t accurate enough. In recent America’s Cup cycles we have seen a massive step up in design simulation. However, you must have confidence in those tools, and trust that they’re giving you accurate feedback. T6 will give us that development platform.”

T6 was built at Carrington Boats in Hythe, at the same site where the original ‘Empire’ flying boats were built back in 1937. The new-age flying boat was then transported to Brackley, UK, the home of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team for its fit-out. T6 has been a key to bringing together the two teams, defining common working practices between the worlds of America’s Cup and F1. 

Ainslie adds: “We are one team as Ineos Britannia, bringing together AC and F1, to create this team is a massive investment from both parties. We see this as a long-term partnership and we are grateful to be part of the Ineos wider sports group, to be able to tap into the expertise from several sports, including cycling. It is an incredible opportunity. A big thank you to Carrington Boats and everyone at Ineos Britannia for getting T6 out on the water.”

T6 will operate throughout the winter from the team’s new base in Palma de Mallorca. Live test data and results will be streamed back to the design, engineering and performance teams at the team’s UK headquarters in Brackley, where work is already underway on the research and design of what will become the team’s AC75 race boat, competing for the 37th America’s Cup.

Ainslie concludes: “The America’s Cup and winning sport’s oldest trophy for Britain is one the toughest challenges around. We’re committed to getting the job done; the intensity, the technical challenge, the resources required, it’s phenomenal.”