Chase Zero, the America’s Cup Emirates Team New Zealand’s hydrogen-fuelled support vessel flies on its foils during its initial sea trials in New Zealand’s Auraki Gulf. Launched last spring, it reached a top speed of 53.2 knots
by Paola Bertelli
Hydrogen is becoming part of the America’s Cup. The world’s oldest yachting trophy is looking to the future, and at the next race, to be held in Barcelona in 2024, the teams must be assisted by at least one hydrogen-fuelled support boat. The new rule dictates that these support vessels must be at least 10 metres long, be capable of a top speed of 50 knots and have a range of 180 miles – in short, they must combine innovation with breath-taking performance. However, as the sailboats we will see engaged in America’s Cup duels - the new AC75s - will be futuristic craft, flying over the water on foils at astronomical speeds, their support boats must have a performance to match.
Emirates Team New Zealand is the first team to have launched its support boats - Chase Zero is a hydrogen-powered catamaran whose foils slice through the water at 35 knots, sometimes nudging speeds of 50. American Magic will soon be receiving its chase boat, built by Bluegame, a Sanlorenzo Group brand, and the other four teams - Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Ineos Britannia, Alinghi Red Bull Racing and K-Challenge - will follow suit. The world of competition sport has provided further important stimuli – this year sees the debut of the E1 Series, the first race series reserved for electric boats. The first prototype to take to the water was RaceBird, specially designed by Victory Design (see page 59) for foil-to-foil racing. Seven metres long, it can reach a top speed of 50 knots.
Innovation and experimentation are no strangers to the Amercia’s Cup world, and the new rule mandating that chase boats must be hydrogen-fuelled may give a decisive boost to the development of fuel-free craft
The signals arriving from the Cup and the E1 Series are not isolated phenomena - the development of fuel-free propulsion methods is an important first step that many yards are taking in their drive to create yachts that are rather more environmentally respectful. Zero-emission sailing means not only reducing energy waste but also minimising vibrations and sound, revolutionising the entire experience. The people at Sunreef are well aware of this, and their Sunreef 80 Eco, named best electric sail yacht of 2022 at the Gussies Electric Boat Awards, takes full advantage of its revolutionary green tech for fuelfree cruising in total silence and luxury. This sail catamaran is 23.87 metres long, with electric power provided by composite-integrated solar panels built into the hull sides, mast, superstructure and bimini roof. The Silent Yacht yard was founded with the aim of creating ocean-going catamarans with solar power electric propulsion. The hard top on its Silent 120, a 36.74 metre superyacht to be launched in 2024, mounts solar panels capable of generating up to 40kWp that slide sideways to make room for the helipad. The yacht will sail at eight knots, with bursts of speed of up to 16 knots. The Silent 80 and 90 are also under construction at the yard. Of course, such large electric-powered craft need to be supported by electric tenders, and in November Silent Yacht launched the Silent Tender 400. Built using carbon fibre, it is available with inboard or outboard motor. Mind-bending performance levels are also predicted for the Silent Speed 28, whose foils, 200 kW engine and new drive train supplied by eD-TEC
The prototype of ElIseo, Riva’s first 100% electric motorboat, was presented in 2022, and this year will see its much-anticipated debut on the market
The Silent 120. The solar panels on the hard top can slide away to make room for the helipad. The company has realized also the Silent Tender 400, a small electric carbon fibre tender
enable a top speed of 60 (yes, 60!) knots. The transition to 100% electric is most evident in the smaller size segment. One of the latest new arrivals on the market, the Capoforte SQ204i, is an elegant 7.38 metre craft that can be fitted with the Yamaha HARMO 3.7 kW outboard or the 50kW Molabo ISCAD electric in-board engine. As for RIBs, the new Pulse 63 has been designed specifically for electric propulsion, and uses eco-sustainable materials like PET, recycled carbon fibre, linen fibre and bio-derived resins. E e novità del 2023 è il Classic 340 E by Highfield Boats. Gommone con scafo in alluminio, riciclabile e durable, e motorizzato con fuoribordo ePropulsion Navy 6.0 Evo che provides clean, efficient and reliable power at 9.9HP. The X Shore yard has chosen an interesting route to follow. With its new X Shore 1 it has
developed an electric boat that’s significantly more economical than the yard’s previous models. With a base price of 99,000 euro, it costs less than a third than the Eelex 8000. Riva’s El-Iseo is an ultra-sophisticated electric craft - we saw the prototype in 2022 and this year we’ll see it take to the water and appear on the market. A prestigious collaboration between Persico, the shipyard that built Luna Rossa, to name but one example, and Zagato (active in automotive design and renowned for creating the bodywork for a series of illustrious supercars) has resulted in the Persico Zagato 100.2, an exclusive runabout almost eight metres long. Only nine of these are to be built – they will be powered by Sealence DeepSpeed 205 kW electric jet propulsion and will reach 40 knots. The course towards zero emissions has definitely been set!
The Sunreef 80 Eco catamaran was named best electric sail yacht of 2022 at the Gussies Electric Boat Awards. Above, the new Pulse 63, a RIB designed especially for electric propulsion. Opposite page, top, only nine examples of the Persico Zagato 100.2, an exclusive runabout nudging 8 metres in length, are to be produced. Bottom, a rendering of the hydrogen-fuelled support vessel for American Magic, the America’s Cup team, to be built by Bluegame
