Shipwrights’ Lectures 2018 – America’s Cup Innovation

The next Shipwrights’ Lectures will be at 14.30 on January 10th 2018  at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton. The lectures are aimed at inspiring apprentices and young people involved in the industry and will show how cutting edge technology is adopted to deliver world beating performance.

Following the 35th America’s Cup held in Bermuda this summer, which exhibited the highest level of advanced sailing technology, this year’s theme is “Technical Innovation”.

The foiling catamarans exhibited some of the greatest operational developments seen in international yacht racing since the cup began. Sir Ben Ainslie’s British Land Rover BAR team successfully harnessed these innovations in their inspirational attempt to bring the cup home having been the only challenger to win one race against New Zealand, the eventual winner of the America’s Cup.  Land Rover BAR will be further developing designs and materials once Emirates Team New Zealand has made public the protocol for the 36th America’s Cup, maintaining their campaign to bring the cup home.

“Innovation” is the theme of the Panel discussion chaired by Matt Sheahan, Head of Performance Sailing Sunset+Vine PLC, with experts from the Land Rover BAR covering all aspects of design, build and hydraulic power generation. The panel members and apprentice speakers, together with the internationally respected final speaker, will be announced in November.

For the first time the Shipwrights’ Lectures will coincide with the London Boat Show and we are pleased to announce that British Marine will again be offering apprentices free entry to the show on Thursday January 11.  Employers will be able to obtain tickets for their apprentices through their training providers.  Further details will be published in November together with the availability to visit the Land Rover BAR ‘Tech Deck and Education Centre’ in their Portsmouth team base.

A full programme will be published in November along with registration opening. Attendees should plan to arrive latest 1430, soft drinks and sandwiches will be on sale in the Nuffield Café from 1330.



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