Deakin announced it was joining the SuperFoiler Grand Prix as the Tertiary Education Partner ahead of the Geelong Grand Prix event to be held on Corio Bay.
The lightweight SuperFoiler machines rely on high-strength carbon fibre technology similar to that being developed at Deakin Waurn Ponds. The space-age material is used in the SuperFoiler hulls, sails and foils to give them a super-light and super-strong structure that allows them reach speeds of more than 40 knots.
Speaking after a tour of the Carbon Nexus Facility, Pavement skipper and Sydney to Hobart winner Steve Thomas was eager to discover more about the synergies the new partnership present for sailors, boat builders and students - "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity as there aren't many of these facilities around. I am super stoked to come here and learn more about carbon and what is going on in the SuperFoiler."
Carbon Nexus Director Dereck Buckmaster is looking to continue the two-way knowledge transfer throughout the series and will also spearhead the design and sculpture of this year’s SuperFoiler Grand Prix trophy, which will be made of carbon from the world-leading Carbon Nexus team.
"It is great to have the SuperFoiler sailors come and visit carbon nexus. When you look at the boats and materials that SuperFoiler are using, you really are looking at the cutting edge of sailing performance and we are trying to figure how you you take those materials and use them more broadly."
“Deakin Carbon Nexus is proud to be the Tertiary Education Partner of the 2018 SuperFoiler Grand Prix, an event that highlights the incredible things that can be achieved with the frontier materials being invented and perfected right here in Geelong,” said Mr Buckmaster.
"It is really interesting to see and hear how they can make different grades of carbon," said Pavement's Rhys Mara, "It is carbon fibre as such when it comes out of the furnace but it is not quite ready to make boats."