The zero-emission catamaran “Race for Water” has reached Madeira finishing the first leg on its journey across the Atlantic. The first of its kind yacht has been utilizing the innovative kite propulsion system developed by SkySails Yacht GmbH of Hamburg/Germany throughout the voyage.
The SkySails system was installed on “Race for Water” at the start of April prior to its departure from Lorient/France making the vessel the first kite-powered wind/solar hybrid yacht in history. The SkySails drive has demonstrated remarkably impressive performance on its maiden voyage. Under ideal conditions the kite measuring only 40m2 accelerates the 35m 100 tons yacht to a speed of up to 10 knots using only the power of wind.
Captain Jean-Marc Normant : “We are extremely happy with the performance and easy handling of the automated system.”
“Race for Water”, built at the Knieriem shipyards in Kiel/Germany in 2010 and formerly known as “Planet Solar” became famous for circumnavigating the globe powered exclusively by a solar electric drive. The catamaran now forms the heart of the “Race for Water” foundation which is dedicated to raising the public’s awareness of plastics pollution and educating it on preventing further environmental damage and pollution (for more information visit www.raceforwater.com). The kite system ideally supplements the self-sufficient propulsion system on board the vessel and supports the Race for Water Odyssey of circumnavigating the earth in the most eco-friendly and sustainable way possible. The yacht is driven by solar, hydrogen and now by wind power as well.
“Race for Water’s”first stopover on its 5-year circumnavigation odyssey will be Bermuda at the end of May where it will be a guest at the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup. The kite drive will be showcased during “open ship“ days. The Race for Water Odyssey is the starting point for SkySails Yacht GmbH to demonstrate how critically important it is to reimagine propulsion systems not only in commercial shipping but also in the superyacht business in order to save fuel, reduce emissions and highlight the owners’ concern for the environment.
The SkySails system for yachts originates from the renowned SkySails propulsion system for cargo vessels and has been adapted and refined for use on yachts. It is available for 15m+ yachts and superyachts and is designed to reduce fuel consumption, extend the vessel’s range, provide stable cruising comfort, enhace reliability and deliver environmentally compatible performance. Motoryachts in the 30 to 40m class with a limited range will now be able to cross the oceans under kite instead of being deckloaded on a freighter.
On her way from the Koror Islands to Chagos Islands, in the Indian Ocean, the MOD70 Race for Water trimaran has capsized yesterday at 8:15PM (GMT +1), 90 miles South East from the Chagos Archipelago, as they were navigating by night with 18 to 20 knots of wind. Further information about the exact reasons of the accident will follow. The crew is (…)
Initiated by the Race for Water Foundation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the “Race for Water Odyssey” (R4WO) will begin in Bordeaux (France) on March 15, 2015. The objective of this unique expedition is to conduct the first global assessment of plastic pollution in oceans by visiting island beaches situated in the 5 trash vortexes.
At 3.49 p.m. (Barbados time) White Dolphin crossed the finishing line of the Panerai Transat Classique 2012 and added her name to the list of winners of this exceptional race for exceptional yachts.
It seems the summer may never end in St Tropez this year. For more than one week straight, unseasonably hot weather has dominated the region, caused by a high pressure system that seemingly stalled over the northern Mediterranean. It was a week of hot sunny days and little breeze, unusual in its duration. Again today, not a cloud could be found (…)
The 2010 edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez concluded today with the prizegiving at La Citadelle, the 16th century fortress set imposingly overlooking the white-capped Golfe de Saint-Tropez. More than 1000 competitors and supporters gathered on a sunny, windy, beautiful fall day, as Andre Beaufils, President of the Les Voiles Organizing (…)
After sailing more than 8,000 nautical miles and spending 128 days crossing the Pacific, the world’s largest ocean, in a boat made of 12,500 plastic PET bottles, the Plastiki expedition and her crew have safely and successfully reached their planned destination of Sydney to cheers of welcome and support.
La jauge Mini pourrait évoluer dans les prochaines années. En dehors du débat sur l’autorisation des mâts en carbone dans la division Prototypes, s’est aussi posée lors de la dernière assemblée générale la question sur les bout-dehors en Série. Les membres de la classe se sont, là encore, positionné en faveur d’une réflexion plus approfondie. (…)
In the french version of SeaSailSurf.com, you can read Sébastien Magnen, Pierre Rolland, Ollivier Bordeau and Denis Glehen’s answers about the possible change in the prototype division of the mini 650 class rules. This time, it is to Leo Voornevelt to answer to thoses question.
Leo followed the last Transat 650 Charente Maritime Bahia. As (…)
Un deuxième défi français pour la coupe de l’America ! Est-ce vraiment possible alors que le team actuel, Le Défi peine à trouver un budget pour rejoindre Auckland ? C’est en tout cas ce que pensent les Kandler père et fils. Appuyés sur leur société K-Yachting, ils lancent K-Challenge. Un cas à part dans l’histoire de la Coupe en France.
Le jeune Anglais Alex Bennett convoyait le monocoque jaune ex-Aqua Quorum quand il a été contraint d’abandonner son bord après que le système hydraulique qui fait pivoter la quille ait donné de graves signes de faiblesse.
14th December 2001, 29 26 09’ N 26 03 49’ W : At 23.00 GMT Alex Bennett, 25-year-old solo yachtsman, abandoned his Open 50 racing yacht ‘One Dream One Mission’ to the elements.
Like the other skippers of Open 60 monohulls, the American sailor Bruce Schwab has done his inversion test for his new Ocean Planet. An important moment for the skipper :
Après Sébastien Magnen et Pierre Rolland, deux architectes navals, Ollivier Bordeau, un constructeur, voici l’avis d’un spécialistes des calculs de structures. Denis Gléhen est responsable des calculs chez HDS (Hervé Devaux Structures) à Brest. Il a travaillé sur les études de Club Med, de différents trimarans de 60 pieds et dernièrement de (…)
Une bonne prise sur le pont de Sill Plein Fruit. Photo : G. Le Cléac’h
Trois monocoques sont actuellement en convoyage retour vers la France. D’un côté, Sill Plein Fruit, l’Open 60 victorieux de la Transat Jacques Vabre rentre aux mains de Gaël Le Cléac’h et son équipage, accompagné par celui de Dominique Wavre. D’un autre, Adrien, le monocoque ‘no limit’ de 25 mètres de Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, qui poursuit sa (…)
Le patron du chantier naval Latitude 48°24’ répond, à son tour et sur le ton de l’humour, sur l’opportunité d’ouvrir la jauge des 650 prototypes aux tubes en carbone.
Grant Dalton doit maudire la rafale de 45 nœuds qui a couché Amer Sports One la veille de son arrivée à Sydney. Projeté à l’intérieur du bateau dans une chute magistrale, alors qu’il était entrain de cuisiner (fait exceptionnel), Dalton souffre de deux côtes cassées ainsi que de plusieurs fractures aux vertèbres qui pourraient l’empêcher de (…)