YACHT RACING DESIGN

Dr.-Ing. Rodrigo Azcueta has been at the core of simulation based America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race design campaigns for 15 years, always pushing the boundaries. Our designs and engineering solutions have helped three sailing teams win the famous Around-the-World Volvo Ocean Race.  As Head of hydrodynamic CFD for four America’s Cup Challenges including AC35 for the British America’s Cup Team, we have built our reputation upon a racing pedigree and winning formula.

1 – 2005 – 2006 Volvo Ocean Race Campaign for ABN Amro – winner

2 – 2008 – 2009 Volvo Ocean Race Campaign for Ericsson – winner

3 – 2011 – 2012 Volvo Ocean Race Campaign for Groupama – winner

4 – 2003 – 2007 Head of CFD, 32nd America’s Cup for BMW Oracle Racing

5 – 2008 – 2009 Head of CFD, 33rd America’s Cup for Team Origin

6 – 2010 – 2013 Head of CFD, 34th America’s Cup for Artemis Racing

7 – 2014 – 2017 Head of CFD, 35th America’s Cup for Landrover BAR

After our successful involvement in the design of the foils of the previous HUGO BOSS, without doubt the fastest boat in the fleet during Vendee Globe 2016-2017, we were proudly commissioned again by Alex Thomson Racing to assist in the design of the new foil system for the next generation IMOCA Open60 HUGO BOSS, for Vendee Globe 2020-2021.

How our CFD technology can help you win races

  • Running simulations to help design the sails, hull and appendages of your boats
  • Running Velocity Prediction Programs to assess the yacht performance and optimising your design for a given handicap system
  • Using state-of-the-art optimisation methods and algorithms to come up with the best design for a given condition or multiple conditions in yacht racing
  • Obtaining accurate load cases for reliability or for designing structures to the edge when it matters

Areas we can help...

  • VPP and Polar curve
  • Hull and appendages performance and optimisation
  • Yaw balance, appendage torques and bending moments, load cases
  • Seakeeping, added drag, motions and accelerations, slamming loads
  •  Sail design and sail coefficients
  • Windage of hull, deck and rigging
  • Cavitation on hydrofoils
  • 2D foil section optimisation, laminar sections free of cavitation
  • Fluid Structure Interaction of foils and sails
  • Design optimisation for a given handicap system
  • Detailed flow visualisation and load distribution on appendages

We can deliver a real competitive edge

Simulations

HUGO BOSS Foil Design

Advanced 4‑ and 5‑DOF CFD simulations used to develop the new semi‑flying foil system for HUGO BOSS, balancing aero and hydrodynamic forces in motion.

HUGO BOSS Cockpit Refinement

Follow-up CFD work focused on optimizing the enclosed cockpit design of HUGO BOSS for aerodynamic efficiency and sailing performance.

Reaching Wave Response Study

6‑DOF unsteady CFD simulations of two hulls in reaching waves revealed non-linear behaviors from small form differences under forward motion.

1‑Click RANS Simulation Tool

Automated viscous flow solver developed for full yacht configurations (sails, hull, crew), with IGES input, 2‑hour runtime, and instant detailed PDF reporting.

Formula Kite Hydrofoil Development

Thousands of simulations were run to design the official hydrofoils for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Registered and approved for competition.

Real‑Time CFD with Machine Learning

Cape Horn Engineering and partners developed a prototype ML model for real‑time CFD prediction through joint R&D with SailGP Technologies and others.

Aero Simulation for AC35 – BAR Team

CFD-driven design of the Aero Package for Land Rover BAR’s foiling catamaran in AC35. Simulations covered full sailing conditions and VPP-coupled performance analysis.

Daggerboard Studies – AC35

Comprehensive CFD study of daggerboard behavior: including takeoff control, 3D/2D drop tests, cavitation modeling, and LES vorticity visualization.

Flying Simulations – AC34 for Artemis Racing

6‑DOF simulations for the AC72 catamarans, analyzing flight dynamics, gust response, and foil-assisted acceleration. Early studies of ‘flying’ behaviors validated by TNZ.

Aero Simulation for AC35 – BAR Team

CFD-driven design of the Aero Package for Land Rover BAR’s foiling catamaran in AC35. Simulations covered full sailing conditions and VPP-coupled performance analysis.

Daggerboard Studies – AC35

Comprehensive CFD study of daggerboard behavior: including takeoff control, 3D/2D drop tests, cavitation modeling, and LES vorticity visualization.

Flying Simulations – AC34 for Artemis Racing

6‑DOF simulations for the AC72 catamarans, analyzing flight dynamics, gust response, and foil-assisted acceleration. Early studies of ‘flying’ behaviors validated by TNZ.