Papercast selected as technology supplier for INEOS Team UK America’s Cup Challenge

(L-R) Robert Bicket Papercast CEO with INEOS TEAM UK chief designer Nick Holroyd.
Copyright: Sarah Alexander

INEOS Team UK has today announced that Papercast, the leader in e-paper information display systems, has been selected as one of their technology partners for the forthcoming America’s Cup (AC36) challenge taking place in Auckland in 2021. 

INEOS TEAM UK was formed in 2018 to bring the America’s Cup home to Britain. The America’s Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy in the world and is ultimately a design and technology race. INEOS TEAM UK will use the best of British innovation to design and build two ‘AC75’ 75-foot foiling mono-hulls.

Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper of INEOS TEAM UK: “It’s impossible to sail these incredibly advanced and sophisticated boats without data, and getting that data in a fast, highly-readable format in the extreme environment of an AC75 cockpit is a real challenge. We’re very happy to have Papercast onboard to take that challenge on.”

Papercast e-paper display technology was originally developed to transform real-time passenger information at bus stops around the world, with solar powered, wireless, sunlight readable displays. With a major foothold in this market, Papercast is perfectly placed to develop its technology for use in other more demanding applications where e-paper can provide significant benefits over traditional LCD and LED technologies.

Papercast e-paper displays combine ultra-low energy consumption with market leading processing performance along with a lightweight IP-rated enclosure. Robert Bicket, CEO of Papercast, comments: “The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of yacht racing and this campaign is particularly close to my heart. I am delighted that our technology will form one of the many vital components that will make this one of the strongest British AC challengers that this country has ever seen.”

The America’s Cup dates back to 1851 when the Royal Yacht Squadron invited the New York Yacht Club to compete in a race around the Isle of Wight. The NYYC duly won the cup and then embarked on what would become the longest winning streak in the history of sport, defending successfully for 132 years until finally being defeated in 1983. A British entry has never won the America’s Cup.

INEOS TEAM UK is based in Old Portsmouth backed by INEOS Founder and Chairman, Jim Ratcliffe. Sir Ben Ainslie, a previous America’s Cup winner (AC34) and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time is Team Principal and Skipper and four times America’s Cup winner, Grant Simmer is team CEO. Combined, the team has 22 Cup wins and 10 Olympic medals including seven gold.

Each competing team races under a challenging Yacht Club and INEOS TEAM UK will race for Royal Yacht Squadron Racing. Founded in 1815, the Royal Yacht Squadron – based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight – is regarded as one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world.