The America’s Cup stands as the oldest international sporting trophy, predating the modern Olympic Games by 45 years, and is older than both the FA Cup and the Ryder Cup. The first race for the America’s Cup was held 35 years before the invention of the automobile and 52 years before the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Despite the event originating in Britain, a British team has never won the trophy.
Backed by INEOS Founder and Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and led by Olympic sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie, INEOS Britannia, the Challenger of Record for the 37th America’s Cup, aims to break this losing streak. At present, the team has successfully qualified for the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, and a victory here would earn them the chance to compete directly against Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup showdown.
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Technology-Driven Performance by Renishaw
Behind the scenes, global engineering company Renishaw, as an official technical partner, is helping maximise INEOS Britannia’s race performance. Renishaw’s contributions span innovative products, advanced solutions, and extensive expertise in position measurement, manufacturing process control, metal additive manufacturing (AM), and Raman spectroscopy. Their support has been instrumental in building INEOS Britannia’s latest AC75 race boat, “Britannia.”
Renishaw’s additive manufacturing team collaborated with INEOS Britannia to develop a variety of customised AM parts, such as an outhaul sheave box, flap fairings, a bowsprit end detail, and a runner beam end-fitting. These components, manufactured using Renishaw’s RenAM 500Q quad-laser systems, were meticulously designed to reduce weight and enhance the boat’s speed and overall efficiency.
Precision Engineering and the Role of Sensors in INEOS Britannia
For the previous campaign, Principal Engineer Dr. Finlay Evans and his team at Renishaw designed rotary sensors with magnetic encoders for the boat’s helm controls. This year, the goal was to create a smaller version of these sensors, which involved updates to miniaturise the encoder, boost electrical resilience, and adapt the system to the harsh marine environment.
These enhancements included substituting the RLS RM08 chip encoder with the RLS AM4096 chip, adding reverse and over-voltage protection, and improving electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. Dr. Evans’ team also redesigned the PCB layout to a flexi-rigid design, shrinking the component’s size and incorporating an LED status indicator.
The new sensor, now fully encapsulated and watertight, leverages the CAN bus protocol to ensure reliable communication and simpler cabling in the rugged marine conditions. This compact sensor has also reduced the yacht’s control panel size, which enhances aerodynamics and reduces overall weight.
Advanced Composite Technology in the AC75 Racing Yacht
The AC75 is a highly advanced 23-meter foiling monohull yacht, featuring three hydrofoils on the hull, a soft wingsail, and no keel. Capable of speeds up to 60 mph, the AC75’s design has been modified to align with sustainability goals shared by America’s Cup teams. To lower environmental impact, INEOS Britannia utilised recycled carbon fiber from ELG Carbon Fibre, a British recovery plant, in constructing the boat.
INEOS Britannia’s manufacturing manager, Michel Marie, emphasises the team’s commitment to sustainability: “We are setting an example by using recycled materials. Renishaw’s alignment with our Net Zero goals further supports our sustainable efforts in the race for the Cup.”
Redefining Control with Encoders and Innovation
Renishaw’s Slovenian-based subsidiary, RLS, produced the AM4096 encoder chip used in INEOS Britannia’s control systems. Andy McLean, the team’s Lead Systems Engineer, explains how thirty twist grips — each with an encoder — help sailors control the yacht’s roll, pitch, heave, and acceleration.
“The packaging size of the new sensors has allowed us to improve ergonomics for our sailors and made the controls more natural,” says McLean. He emphasises that the control system’s reliability is critical, noting that a malfunction could cause a nosedive similar to a Formula One brake failure.
The streamlined sensor system on the INEOS Britannia race boat saves space and enhances aerodynamics. Updates to America’s Cup protocols now allow only one AC75 to be built per team, limit foil and component usage, reduce crew size, and encourage sustainability initiatives.
INEOS Britannia and Renishaw’s Technological Advantage
Renishaw’s role in INEOS Britannia’s bid for the America’s Cup extends beyond technical contributions to embody a partnership that has redefined the control and sustainability standards in yacht racing. Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper of INEOS Britannia, commends Renishaw’s invaluable support, saying, “Thousands of hours have gone into this boat, and we are incredibly grateful for Renishaw’s technology and expertise.”
