Suzuki to supply INEOS Britannia with chase boat outboards
Suzuki GB has partnered with INEOS Britannia to become the official supplier of outboard motors for its fleet of chase boats, which will support INEOS Britannia, the Challenger of Record for the 37th America’s Cup in 2024.
The outboard of choice will be the dual-propeller DF325A model, with Suzuki providing the team with 12 units in total.
The partnership was officially announced at the Southampton International Boat Show on Thursday (22 September) and will see Suzuki powering the team’s chase boats as it prepares for the 37th America’s Cup, which is to be held in Barcelona in 2024.
The contra-rotating propeller design of the DF325A is said to provide more grip underwater while also helping to achieve a smaller, and far more hydrodynamic gear case. It does this by distributing the engine’s torque evenly over two propellers, so that the torque per propeller is decreased enabling the gear diameter to be reduced.
Suzuki says the engine’s propeller blade geometry has been optimised to deliver “incredible grip and acceleration” across the rev range. One of the main benefits is improved directional and transverse stability, which is achieved by each propeller rotating in different directions, helping to balance a craft throughout a turn.
Twin DF325A outboards
“We are passionate about all aspects of boating and Team INEOS Britannia are at the very pinnacle of sailing as a sport, so it is a huge honour to partner with them,” says Mark Beeley, head of marine & ATV for Suzuki GB. “Our outboards are at the forefront of innovation too, so I think as a brand and a team we are very well aligned. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to helping support the team over the next three years.”
Dave Endean, chief operations officer for INEOS Britannia adds: “Performance and reliability are key factors for us in everything we do, so Suzuki was the perfect fit when it came to an outboard supplier for our chase boats. We are very grateful for all the work they have done so far to help our support team get the boats rigged and ready. These outboards will ensure that our support team can keep pace with the race boats during our crucial testing and training.”
INEOS Britannia will be training in Palma and then Barcelona over the next 18 months in the run-up to AC37, which will also feature the first ever Women’s America’s Cup, being raced in the revolutionary AC40 class.
Earlier this week, the new AC40 reached 34 knots on its maiden sail, getting up onto the foils within minutes.
