The America's Cup defender Oracle Team USA has announced its construction team for the 35th edition of the event. It consists mainly of Americans and will once again be led by Grant Simmer. However, two Germans are also on the payroll.
The two South Germans Thomas Hahn and Christoph Erbelding have a long history with the American team. Both studied aerospace engineering in Stuttgart and then worked in development at BMW, specialising in composite fibre materials. When the car manufacturer became a partner of the AC team, they travelled to Seattle to prepare for the 32nd edition.
They obviously did a good job there. As was subsequently established, the Oracle AC Cupper allegedly had the heaviest lead bomb on its keel of all the participants. As the maximum weight of these boats was limited, this meant that the hull was the lightest and therefore the most structurally optimised.
Both were also involved in the 2010 Cup and helped develop Oracle's giant trimaran, which beat Alinghi's cat in a superior manner. BMW subsequently pulled out and Hahn and Erbelding went into business for themselves.
Erbelding was then hired again for the 34th AC, moved to San Francisco for two years and played a decisive role in developing the victorious AC-72 catamaran.
Now both are back in the same boat and, for the time being, the only Germans in the upcoming edition of the Cup. But that also gives reason for hope: Because there is potential that could perhaps benefit a German team one day.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
