THEME 2: SHIPBUILDING AND LEISURE BOAT-BUILDING

The ambition of the PAC2010 project is to perfect innovative simulation tools and design processes for the leisure and competitive sailing industry, and to apply them in one of the most rigorously selective environments in the world, namely the 2010 America’s Cup. To achieve this, the PAC2010 project aims to develop the creation of single hulls for competitive sailing and for the recreational super-yacht market along the French Atlantic seaboard following the successful example of New Zealand, past masters at “intelligent” boat design.

Originators of the PAC2010 project, Multiplast and the Ecole Centrale Nantes, in collaboration with other industry partners, will develop the tools required for a major technological breakthrough: hydrodynamic and aerodynamic simulation combined with sea condition modelling will make it possible to predict how the yacht will respond in ocean swell, how sail trim will behave when in motion and, ultimately, will predict the performance and manoeuvering capability of the boat.

The companies will be working to perfect these tools with three partners who are well known in the research world:

• The Fluid Mechanics Lab (Ecole Centrale Nantes / CNRS) has for several years been developing tools for simulating the flow around a vessel and its response to ocean swell for use in naval and civilian ship design.
• The Val de Reuil Experimental Tank Facility for testing hulls is the French government armaments department hydrodynamics research centre which undertakes French naval vessel research as well as a large number of civil maritime projects, including R&D for competitive yachts such as Groupama 2 and 3.
• The Centre Scientifique et Technique (CSTB – Ship science and technology centre) is recognised for its expertise in experimental aerodynamics and giant wind tunnel testing.

The ultimate aim of the PAC2010 project is to provide project partners with high-performance design tools which are transferable to other products. The tools will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the partners’ activities in the field of competition and recreational sailing by strengthening their competitiveness and that of their R&D departments.

PAC2010 PROJECT PARTNERS

• Multiplast in Vannes is directing and co-ordinating the project.
• The Ecole Centrale in Nantes and its fluid mechanics lab are directing the project.
• Experimental Tank Facility, Val de Reuil (27)
• The Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (Ship science and technology centre), Nantes

Contacts

marc.boeuf@pole-mer-bretagne.com