America’s Cup yacht hydrofoils

In 2013, for the first time, the America's Cup was sailed with foiling boats. This led to fast growth in the use of foils on both sailing and power boats, both for racing and cruising. Foiling allows unprecedented speed and comfort, but it raises significant design challenges on control and safety.

The project aims at developing an in-depth understanding of the unsteady hydrodynamics of America's Cup hydrofoils. The project will be performed with the partnership of world-leading yacht designers and professional sailors, and will be potentially affiliated with an America Cup team.

There is no closing date for this position, which will remain open until filled.

NOTES ON APPLYING

Please check additional instructions on https://voilab.eng.ed.ac.uk/phd

Further Information: 

Closing Date: 

Wednesday, December 31, 2025
AC72 class catamaran (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC72)
AC72 class catamaran (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC72)

Principal Supervisor: 

Eligibility: 

Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. Further information on English Language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Funding: 

Applications are welcomed from those who have secured their own funding through scholarships or sponsorships. No internal funds are available for this project. 

Informal Enquiries: