Wind Tunnel and Yacht Research Unit Manager

Contact details

Room 403.313
Mechanical Engineering Dept, The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland

Phone: +64 9 527 5086
Email: d.lepelley@auckland.ac.nz
Website: http://www.engineers.auckland.ac.nz/~dpel004/

Biography

David Le Pelley is the manager of the Yacht Research Unit at the University of Auckland, and also the chairman of the High Performance Yacht Design conference. The Yacht Research Unit operates the Twisted Flow Wind Tunnel and carries out research and consultancy for many of the world's top racing teams, specialising in aerodynamics and velocity performance prediction.

After gaining a Masters degree from the University of Southampton, David worked for 2 years at BMT Fluid Mechanics as a wind tunnel engineer and then 1 year as a marine CFD analyst. He moved to New Zealand in 2001 and was a member of the BMW Oracle Racing design team for the last America's Cup. His current research involves sail shape recognition using camera systems.

Qualifications

M.Eng (w. Distinction) Yacht and Small Craft Design, University of Southampton, 1998

Research interests

• Yacht sail aerodynamics
• Yacht performance prediction
• Sail scanning using camera techniques (VSPARS)

Research groups

• Yacht Research Unit
• Wind Engineering Group

Selected publications

• Le Pelley, D.J., Kjelberg, L. & Flay, R.G.J., “The effects of staysails on yacht performance” 3rd High Performance Yacht Design Conference, RINA, New Zealand, 2008.
• Le Pelley, D.J. & Modral, O. “Flying shape and rig position comparison and quantification using imaging techniques” 3rd High Performance Yacht Design Conference, RINA, New Zealand, 2008.
• Le Pelley, DJ & Hansen, H., “An Investigation into the effects of heel on downwind sails”, The Modern Yacht, RINA, Southampton, 2003.
• Le Pelley, DJ, Ekblom, P & Flay, RGJ, “Wind tunnel testing of downwind sails”, High Performance Yacht Design conference, Auckland, 2002.

Administration

• Manager of YRU

Professional affiliations

• Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects
• Member of the Australasian Wind Engineering Society
• High Performance Yacht Design Conference organising committee – Chairman for 2008
• Director of VSPARS Ltd