Land Rover BAR launches latest testing boat, T2

The British America’s Cup challenger Land Rover BAR has launched its latest testing boat, T2.

T2 comes a year after the launch of its first boat, T1, a heavily modified former AC45.

The new boat brings them into line with what Artemis and Oracle Team USA have been up to this year. T2 is approximately the same length as the previous boat, but is wider and considerably more powerful. The most obvious thing that outwardly sets T2 apart from its predecessor is a cockpit for the crew and wheel steering for the helmsmen.

Andy Claughton, Land Rover BAR chief technology officer and two times America’s Cup winner said “This is the most technologically advanced sailing boat I’ve ever been involved with. It’s the vital next step on our path to developing the boat that will challenge for the America’s Cup, containing some of the most innovative and powerful technology ever used in this competition.”

Ben Ainslie, team principal and skipper, four times Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winner supported this saying, “T2 is an extraordinary achievement; everyone on the design, engineering and shore teams have put everything they have got into this boat. Power is nothing without control, and there has been no compromise in the pursuit of both. All of the sailing team are grateful and privileged to get the opportunity to test fly this unique craft.”

Land Rover BAR will continue test sailing in the Solent throughout the winter. Next week the team will fly to Bermuda for the final America’s Cup World Series event of the year (17/18 October).