DESIGN-DRIVEN INNOVATION: SUSTAINABLE LUXURY HIGH SPEED RIGID WING HYDROFOIL

This paper reports on a new sector for leisure superyachts, building upon the high profile implementation of rigid wing and hydrofoil technology in the recent America Cup boats. The design meaning is that of a motoryacht with effectively a zero carbon footprint, achieved through the use of an automated control system for the rigid wings as the main form of propulsion. The hydrofoil provides significantly reduced drag and improved seakeeping in higher sea states. The technology is common on small boats, but due to the hull drag challenges of larger vessel an innovative implementation of a gas turbine powered water jet was used to get the vessel foil borne, which also charges the battery system. The use of solar cells and nature fibres for the construction of the vessel further enhances the sustainability. The vessel has a modular interior based on an aircraft track system, for which 3 distinctive GAs have been designed. This offers a significant level of configuration flexibility for charter and also creates a new charter market sector between charter and ownership, whereby the client can own an interior which is stored and transported in TEUs. The modular nature of the interior enables it to be fitted in 1/2 a day rather than a conventional refit which can take months. The exterior styling is informed by motoryacht trends. The LCA issues are addressed by extending the life of the vessel through ease of refit and significantly reduced operating CO2 footprint, effectively engaging in sustainable luxury.