At the Yacht Club de Monaco it is time for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
27 June 2024 - 6:49PM
Future of engineering focused on sustainable yachting. Everything's
ready for the 11th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
taking place from 1st to 6th July. Organising the competition is
the Yacht Club de Monaco, led by its President HSH Prince Albert
II: the key objective being to demonstrate the efficiency of
alternative propulsion and hull design innovations. "Seeing how
committed the new generation is shows how important it is to find
answers to environmental issues," says YCM General Secretary
Bernard d’Alessandri. The aim is put on a zero-emission event in
terms of on-water mobility with over 50 boats attending. More than
700 students from 40-plus universities around the world (25
nations) have been working on their projects all year to earn their
place and present them in the Principality. The Village showcases
all the boats that are either on or about to enter the market, as
well as prototypes, and is open to the public.
In the Energy Class, a category developed by YCM, contestants
can for the first time add foils to their prototypes, like the
British from Cambridge University Riviera Racing with their
hydrogen-powered foiling catamaran. Among the 18 teams in this
class, the French from Tameo Ensta/Monaco Marine from Ensta Paris
will also be serious contenders with their three-engine project
inspired by differential propulsion, a first for the Energy Class.
In the Solar Class, 13 teams are in the line-up including the
Spanish on Clean Energy Ship Uvigo from the Universidade de Vigo
presenting a rather unique hull design with lines similar to a
catamaran and impressive speed potential. It aims to be very stable
when racing before deploying the foils to generate lift and fly
over the water. Finally, in the Open Sea class for boats already on
or about to enter the market, several units will be showing what
they can do. The 15 registered teams include Deep Silence from
Sialia Yachts, one of the largest full electric propulsion boats
available on the market; and two hydrogen-powered boats, Madblue
marine P-01 and Inocel-Poséidon, which will be supplied with
hydrogen on 5th July by Natpower. The new electric, highperformance
day boat, the Tridente, developed in ollaboration with marine
technology company Vita, who are long-term supporters of the event,
will also be present.
Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW
and SBM Offshore, the event has attracted the attention and support
of well-known names in the industry like Monaco Marine, Oceanco,
Ferretti Group, Azimut/Benetti Group, Sanlorenzo and Lürssen, all
keen to play a part in the yachting transformation. So for these
young competitors there are opportunities to make contact with the
industry by applying for job offers and internships via the Job
Forum. At the last edition this facility led to over 80 interviews.
There is also investment in time made by the professionals through
the Corporate Mentoring Programme which provides bespoke support
year-round by facilitating exchanges between the industry and
universities.
This year for the first time, YCM is partnering with IEMA
(International Electric Marine Association) by helping it organise
its first Annual Meeting at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. The
event is multi-facetted, particularly on the water with a range of
motorboating challenges such as the manoeuvrability tests, sea
trials, speed record and the YCM E-Boat Rally. While innovative
solutions are being tested on the water, students are also given a
voice at the daily Tech Talks to exchange knowledge and experiences
with fellow contestants in open source. As the focus is on
progressing alternative propulsion, professionals get a chance to
have their say at two half-day conferences: the first (Thursday 4th
July) is on alternative fuels and cutting-edge technologies in the
yachting field, while the second is the annual Hydrogen Round Table
(5th edition this year) organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation, the Monaco Energy Transition and YCM, which will
address hydrogen innovation in the maritime and yachting
industry.
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is launching the
Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting
Technology Award, the prize being a grant of €25,000 for best
technological solution in terms of energy efficiency and/or carbon
reduction. The winner will be announced on 6th July and will be
able to present progress on their project at the Monaco Energy Boat
Challenge for three years starting 2025.
For more information:Press Office LaPresse -
ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06f3fec5-bff4-4e86-ae3b-f0d96faa8eac