The America’s Cup, the premier event in the elite sport of yacht racing, is eagerly anticipated by fans. Held every few years since 1851, boats and sailors from around the world compete to win the highly prized trophy. This exciting race is a physical and mental challenge for the crew, but behind the scenes and before the race, America’s Cup boats require extensive engineering that must occur on a tight schedule. Because physical testing of all possible improvements to a vessel of this complexity is inconceivable (not to mention financially untenable), Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) has turned to ANSYS Multiphysics engineering simulation software to develop a reliable, robust and competitive craft.

America’s Cup yachts have changed drastically over the last several years. The boats now fly over the water four times faster with the help of a wing that replaces the traditional sail. Emirates Team New Zealand has been working to pull ahead of its competition by using ANSYS Multiphysics simulation to evaluate thousands of alternative cases and develop the best possible design in its quest for this cup. Aerospace technology - including advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials, wind tunnel testing and advanced simulation technology - has revolutionized America’s Cup racing. These cup-class yachts use a wing that is more akin to an airplane’s wing or airfoil than a traditional sail. The wing enables the catamarans to transfer wind into forward momentum (instead of into lift, as in aircraft).