Team Alinghi uses SolidWorks to help defend the America's Cup
Team gears up for the America's Cup in 2007 by creating SolidWorks 3D models to gain higher performance from almost every aspect of the racing yacht
CONCORD, Mass., March 28, 2005 ? Team Alinghi, the first team to bring the America's Cup to Europe in 153 years, is setting out to defend the America's Cup it won in 2003 with a racing yacht designed using SolidWorks® software. The Swiss team will refine nearly everything from the hull and mast structures to winch mounts with SolidWorks 3D mechanical design software as the team tries to maximize every part's performance to outlast stiff competition from now until the America's Cup in 2007.
Formed in Switzerland in 2000 with the mission to win the Cup in 2003, Team Alinghi decided in its first year to convert most of its yacht design from static 2D drawings to SolidWorks 3D models. ?SolidWorks is fast becoming the common design language in our industry,? said Dirk Kramers, chief engineer of Team Alinghi. ?It's very important to be on the same page with suppliers, whether for masts, sails, machined parts, or steering mechanisms. SolidWorks allows us to collaborate on designs efficiently and accurately with our suppliers, which reduces production times and lets us quickly begin testing the boat on the water.?
Pushing the limits of hull and keel design within America's Cup specifications requires constant innovation. SolidWorks allows engineers to make changes on the fly without having to recreate complex designs with each revision. This flexibility gives them more time to explore new options that can improve hydrodynamics and increase speed. ?If we change the shape of the hull, for example, and insert that into the overall yacht's design, more than 100 different parts will change as well,? said Kramers. ?SolidWorks automates those changes, which saves time and allows us to easily keep track of the different configurations in case we want to go back to an earlier concept.?
Previously, Alinghi engineers would have had to spend weeks re-drawing the hull in 2D for such major changes. SolidWorks also enables them to quickly calculate different part weights so they can keep the performance/weight ratio at an optimal level.
eDrawings? software has become Team Alinghi's primary means of communicating designs with sailors and engineers scattered throughout the world. An e-mail-enabled design collaboration tool, eDrawings allows an engineer to send a solid model of a winch to the grinders (those who wind the winch) for example, to obtain feedback on whether the design will work. The grinders can view, rotate, and understand the model as if they were holding it in their hands without having to download software or understand the engineering behind the winch.
?Winning the America's Cup is no small feat, and doing so from a country that has no saltwater border is even more astonishing,? said Jeff Ray, SolidWorks chief operating officer. ?Team Alinghi employed master tacticians, experienced crew, driven engineers, and powerful design software to bring home the trophy. We wish them well in their mission to keep it.?
Team Alinghi works with authorized SolidWorks reseller e-Systems for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.
About Team Alinghi
Team Alinghi sails for Switzerland and flies the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève. Its partners for the 2007 campaign include main partners UBS and Infonet, as well as co-sponsors Audemars Piguet, SGS, Nespresso, MSC Cruises and North Sails. Visit the Web site at: www.alinghi.com.
About eSystems
e-Systems is a dynamic and successful
SolidWorks solutions supplier. With more than 200 customers in the French part
of Switzerland, e-Systems has significant experience in support, and integration
of design, analysis, data management and design-to-manufacturing solutions to
customers throughout industry. Its team of engineers is highly specialized and
has diversified experience in many fields, such as machine tools, medical and
the watch industry. e-Systems guarantees a top-quality service to its customers.
e-Systems can be reached via its Web site www.e-systems.ch or via e-mail at
info@e-systems.ch.
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