USA-71 to Be Recycled

Oracle’s America’s Cup yachts have proven that high-tech carbon fiber materials are incredibly strong and lightweight. But recycling them at the end of a yacht’s lifespan is another story. Similarly, Boeing has made huge technological gains using these composite materials to build their new 787 Dreamliner. Yet, using post-consumer waste to build these massive machines is still a pipe dream. In order to reduce their environmental carbon footprints, OTUSA and Boeing have teamed up to study the potential for recycling carbon fiber. 

The donor material comes from Oracle’s first AC training boat, USA-71, built in 2002 for the their 2003 AC campaign. For the last six years she’s been stationed in the lagoon at Oracle HQ in Redwood City. She’s also the sister ship to USA-76, which you can see sailing the Bay carrying charter customers. (Read more about USA-76 on our Chartering page.)

Recycling carbon fiber is no simple task. The University of Nottingham (UK) and MIT-RCF, a South Carolina carbon fiber repurposing company will work with OTUSA and Boeing "to gather data about the mechanical properties, costs and time flows to recycle sailing-grade composite materials in comparison to aerospace-grade and automobile-grade composites," say the companies.

About 75 percent of the study materials will come from USA-71’s hull and the remaining 25 percent, from her mast. USA-71 is likely the largest carbon fiber vessel ever recycled and will redirect approximately 7,000 lbs of carbon fiber away from landfills and potentially be repurposed into industrial and/or consumer grade products.