America's Cup entry sails through design

OneWorld Challenge, one of three US entries in the America's Cup yacht race, is using SolidWorks 3D CAD software and Structural Research Analysis Corp's Cosmos/Works analysis software in its quest.

OneWorld Challenge, one of three US entries in the America's Cup yacht race, is using SolidWorks 3D CAD software and Structural Research Analysis Corp's Cosmos/Works analysis software in its attempt to win the coveted trophy next year.

Winning the America's Cup, often considered the world's most prestigious sailing regatta, depends on structural design of the most minute detail.

OneWorld Challenge's engineers use SolidWorks and Cosmos/Works to quickly design and analyse the structural integrity of everything from the deck to the nuts that bolt winches to it.

The team then works to refine details before qualifying races begin next autumn.

The team used SolidWorks to design the keel fin for example, and Cosmos/Works to determine how it will counter the high loads and pressures associated with hundreds of square meters of sail area.

Deadlines are tight, and the engineers constantly tweak the boat's specs until the last minute before building begins.

"The America's Cup is as much a technological competition as a world-class sailing regatta", said Aaron Perry, design engineer at OneWorld Challenge.

"Just as boat speed is critical in navigating the America's Cup racecourse, compressing the time between the idea and the finished part is critical to our design effort.

This demands that our CAD software be flexible and responsive to changes in design.

SolidWorks' modelling and Cosmos/Works' analysis capabilities allow us to quickly design, test, and build components that may evolve in design four or five times before the start of racing.

That kind of adaptability helps us meet crucial deadlines".

Replacing a part that isn't structurally sound costs OneWorld Challenge both precious time and money.

Cosmos/Works' seamless integration with SolidWorks accelerates the necessary structural analysis to ensure every bulkhead, block, and padeye (used to secure lines and rigging to the boat) will stand up to the demands of a world-class sailing crew.

Tightly linking the two applications ensures that engineers don't waste time hopping from one application to another, so they complete designs on time.

"Cosmos/Works and SolidWorks together let us easily refine the details on the boat without a lot of trial and error", said Neil Wilkensen, design engineer at OneWorld Challenge.

"That saves us precious time and money.

SolidWorks is very good at handling large assemblies and complex surfaces, and Cosmos/Works lets us know if we're going to encounter any problems".

OneWorld Challenge will compete with seven other entries from around the world in a series of match races off the New Zealand coast beginning in October and lasting through January 2003 to determine which team will go on to challenge defending champion Team New Zealand for the America's Cup in February.

"More than two years of preparation, millions of dollars, and intense scrutiny over every design feature go into an America's Cup sailboat", said Dave Corcoran, executive vice president of research and development for SolidWorks.

"OneWorld Challenge's engineers don't want to leave anything to chance.

They want to design, test, build, and refine everything on that boat so they can be sure they've made it as fast as possible.

SolidWorks and Cosmos/Works are giving them that confidence, and an excellent shot at the Cup".

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