America's Cup: American Magic, Airbus Become Innovation Partners

NEWPORT, RI -- New York Yacht Club American Magic has an innovation partner. Airbus, the aerospace pioneer, is coming on to help engineer the racing boat, according to a press release Tuesday.

“It was important to have an Innovation Partner with past America’s Cup experience,” said Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and Executive Director of New York Yacht Club American Magic. “Airbus’ expertise and personnel will be critical to a Cup-winning design team. This engineering partnership has been active for the better part of 2018 and is nothing short of awesome. Together we will push sailing technology forward, win the biggest prize in the sport, and inspire sailors here at home and around the world.”

They're planning to build a "flying yacht," according to Jean Brice Dumont, executive vice president of engineering at Airbus. “This is a true challenge for the team to see how they can optimize technological innovation under tight time and resource constraints,” said “We love good, clean competition. That’s what pushes us to continually improve at innovating, solve challenges, learn from experience and, ultimately, win."

According to the press release, American Magic and Airbus are a natural fit. "Sailing and aerospace have multiple shared technologies,. Optimizing design, engineering, and data capture, analysis and simulation are among the parallel priorities of both the Airbus and American Magic teams. Wings produce lift while sails generate thrust, but both cut through the air in a similar way. When the hull of American Magic lifts out of the water, aerodynamics become crucial to speed and stability as they 'fly' across the water on foils shaped like the wings of Airbus aircraft.

Photo Caption: Jean Brice Dumont, of Airbus, left, and Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and Executive Director of New York Yacht Club American Magic.

Courtesy Photo Credit Enrique Shore