Gloucestershire-based Renishaw, a global engineering company, is supporting Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS Team UK as they race in the Prada America’s Cup World Series from 17-19 December.

As the team’s official precision measurement and additive manufacturing (AM) partner, Renishaw has contributed its engineering expertise to help build the technologically advanced yacht the team will race, as it challenges to win the 36th America’s Cup in March 2021, a competition that the UK has never won before.

The America’s Cup World Series is a preliminary regatta ahead of the America’s Cup which will see four teams representing UK, USA, Italy and New Zealand, race against each other for the first time in their respective AC75 yachts (75ft sailing hydrofoil monohull class).

It is the first and only opportunity for the teams to race before the challenge for the America’s Cup starts in earnest in the Prada Cup, the Challenger Selection Series, on 15 January, 2021.

The America’s Cup is the oldest international trophy in world sport, predating the modern Olympic Games by 45 years. In 1851, the USA’s schooner ‘America’ beat a fleet of British yachts in a race around the Isle of Wight, England, leading to the creation of a new challenge trophy open to sailing clubs from around the world.

Second consecutive challenge for the British team
This is the second consecutive challenge for the British team having previously competed in the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda. In 2018, Ben Ainslie joined forces with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS’ founder and chairman, to form INEOS Team UK.



INEOS Team UK will be sailing its AC75 class boat ‘Britannia’, which can reach speeds of up to 50 knots — over 60mph. The ‘state of the art’ yacht has a 75ft foiling mono-hull built and equipped with some of the best of British technology.

Renishaw has supplied products and expertise in the fields of position encoders, manufacturing process control and Raman spectroscopy, alongside additive manufacturing (AM) support to optimise the design and manufacture of bespoke structural components.

Chris Pockett, Renishaw head of communications, said: “Renishaw is proud to contribute its expertise to INEOS Team UK to help it develop an incredibly technologically advanced boat. The UK’s bid showcases the best of British engineering and we hope the team can make history by being the first British team to ever win the America’s Cup.”

Finlay Evans, Renishaw technical leader in the encoders product division, said: “INEOS Team UK’s enthusiasm throughout this project is infectious and has inspired us to strive for the best we can achieve.

“As a British manufacturer, there is a sense of camaraderie. It is very rewarding to be part of the UK’s bid in the competition and we expect all the races as part of the 36th America’s Cup to be an exciting spectacle.”

Sir Ben Ainslie, INEOS Team UK team principal and skipper, said: “We are really excited to be working with Renishaw. The company has been a fantastic partner for us and we are really looking forward to the challenge to bring the America’s Cup home in 2021 with its support.”

To find out more about Renishaw’s extensive range of technologies visit the website (www.renishaw.com/products) and for more information about INEOS Team UK and its 36th America’s Cup challenge visit the website (www.ineosteamuk.com).