As the 37th America’s Cup moves towards its conclusion in Barcelona, the Orient Express Racing Team remains committed to exploring the opportunity offered by the technical challenge it had to accept to participate.
Along with all the teams that will participate in the 2024 America’s Cup, the French candidate had to have a high-speed hydrogen boat (HSV) as the only authorized assistance in the regatta area according to the rules of the oldest sports trophy in the world. . Having passed that test, Orient Express Racing Team is now moving forward to create a completely eco-friendly commercial speedboat variant.
In addition to intensive navigation, the HSV requirement provided an opportunity for real innovation. Kandler said: “The first HSV served as a laboratory to develop version 2, which is dedicated to the commercial coastal motor boat market under 30 meters. The new model will be presented at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025.
”Our project has the support of the French Secretariat of State for the Sea, after the signing of a collaboration agreement in R&D that will allow the widespread use of the technological elements of the hydrogen ship within the framework of the France Mer initiative 2030“.
Each America’s Cup competitor must have at least one foiling boat, powered by 160 kW hydrogen fuel cells, capable of maintaining a cruising speed of 30 knots for a minimum of 150 nautical miles, reaching a maximum speed of 50 knots for more than an hour of navigation. Sailing during the day.
Stephan Kandler, founder of K-Challenge:
“Competition makes you smarter.”
K-Challenge, through its subsidiary K-Challenge Lab, accepted the technological challenge together with a European consortium to develop a 33-foot (10-meter) hydrogen catamaran that flies on hydrofoils imagined and designed by French architect Philippe Briand, powered by two REXH2®. fuel cells coupled to three 63 kWh batteries from hydrogen specialist EODev, and built by Italian shipyard Bluegame.
”We joined forces with a consortium that worked with experts for months to meet these very precise specifications,” says Antoine Carraz, technical director of the Orient Express Racing Team, who built the AC75 racing boat and oversaw the construction of the hydrogen boat.
”Several important limitations had to be taken into account. Firstly, the need to sail for long periods at high speeds, which requires performance that boats powered solely by batteries cannot achieve, even in catamarans with foils, due to the weight and volume they occupy. hence the need for a combination of solutions, including a hybrid system using hydrogen.
“We also know that the shape and total surface area of the hull in contact with the water is a key factor in terms of energy efficiency. Hence the catamaran. Although the resistance is less in a seaplane, we must not forget the Archimedes model. takeoff phase, which consumes a lot of energy.”
While the Orient Express Racing Team awaits news on the 38th America’s Cup, the technical inspiration of the 37th edition continues to cast its spell.
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