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.
Juste après Gitana IX qui a annoncé officiellement son abandon suite à un petit problème de structure sur la coque centrale, c’est Francis Joyon qui indiquait à la vacation radio de 13h30 qu’il était lui aussi contraint de rallier directement Bahia.
"Ascension rounded at 0010 GMT the 16th – We’re off !" said Ellen’s brief email sent to the Transat Jacques Vabre Race HQ over night from leading multihull Kingfisher-Foncia. One hour 17 minutes later, at 0127 GMT, the next ‘fax of deliverance’ came through. "Groupama here, we are passing the Easterly point of the Ascension Islands. Franck."
« Ascension rounded at 00.10 (TU) the 16th – We’re off ! » : voilà le bref mail envoyé par Ellen MacArthur cette nuit au PC Course de la Transat Jacques Vabre. Une heure dix-sept plus tard, soit à 1H27 TU, c’est au tour de Groupama d’envoyer son « fax-délivrance » : « Ici Groupama, on passe la pointe Est de l’Ascension. A +, Franck ».
L’équipage américain d’Oracle Racing, le défi du milliardaire Larry Ellison avec le Néo Zélandais Chris Dickson à la barre, va troquer ses cirés pour des combinaisons de plongée.
The outstanding achievements of sailors Ellen MacArthur (GBR) and Robert Scheidt (BRA) were recognised by the world of sailing with the announcement at the prestigious Awards Presentation held tonight, 13 November 2001, Lisbon, Portugal, that they are the respective female and male "ISAF Rolex
World Sailors of the Year 2001".
Depuis le début de son tour du monde contre vents et courants, Jean Luc Van Den Heede s’exprimait toujours avec bonne humeur et sérénité. Aujourd’hui, le ton a changé et c’est d’une voix abattue, que, la mort dans l’âme, VDH annonçait son abandon.
Alors qu’il avait plus de quatre jours d’avance sur le record de Philippe Monnet, Jean Luc Van Den Heede est contraint d’interrompre sa course. En effet, après avoir franchi le Cap Horn, hier soir à 19 heures 41 précisément, le skipper amiénois continuait sa route dans le Pacifique dans des conditions de mer particulièrement « musclées ». Ce (…)
A 14 heures 51 aujourd’hui, Jean Luc Van den Heede entrait dans son 34e jour de mer et s’apprêtait à franchir le Cap Horn. C’est vers 18 heures qu’ADRIEN passait le rocher mythique dans des conditions météorologiques optimales. Son adversaire virtuel, Philippe Monnet, avait franchi le Horn le 16 février 2000, soit après 38 jours, 9 heures et 15 (…)
A l’issue de trois journées très disputées, c’est finalement l’équipage Costarmoricain de Groupe Générali Assurances qui a remporté le National Figaro Bénéteau. Il s’impose devant les Finistériens d’Espoir Crédit Agricole et le double tenant du titre, Pokémon. Une seule manche aura finalement été disputée aujourd’hui en rade de Brest, l’absence (…)
The wind Gods were smiling today for the start of the 6,550 nautical mile leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race to Sydney, providing spectacular sailing conditions in Table Bay, under the watchful gaze of Table Mountain. A freshening westerly 24-knot breeze blew out of a clear and cloudless blue sky, declaring a true beat to windward towards the (…)