Australian technology heralding the green future of yachting

by Sail-World Cruising on 30 Aug 2009 Australian technology has been used for one of the world's most innovative green superyacht designs. Soliloquy, since Sail-World Cruising first brought news of it some weeks ago, has been getting more than its share of world-wide publicity for its student designer, and it's getting interest from potential new super-yacht owners as well.

The award-winning 23 year old British Coventry University student Alistair Callender has not only taken his lecturers by storm - getting a First Class Honours degree with Professional Enhancement and being voted Yacht Designer of the Year by an independent panel of judges - he has also taken the Superyacht world by storm, with his revolutionary Super-Green, superyacht called Soliloquy.

Australian Technology:
Alastair, who already has his own organisation called Callender Designs, has developed this radical, rigid-wing superyacht concept, which will be powered from wind, solar and Hybrid Marine Power (HMP) technology from www.solarsailor.com!Solar_Sailor_Holdings_Ltd, Australia. The systems harness the power of the sun so efficiently that the yacht is actually energy positive - generating more power than it uses.

This technology has received a development grant from the US Navy for unmanned ocean vehicles and is currently used on a series of commercial vessels.

Middle East Inspiration:
Alistair says he was inspired by the dynamic architectural form of the Rotating Tower development in Dubai with its ever-changing shape, and the zero emissions Masdar City and Ghantoot Green City projects in Abu Dhabi, this yacht is a zero-emission superyacht conceived at 58 metres length.

Soliloquy's additional innovations also include an 'ever-evolving' superstructure which will create a unique visual display to all onlookers. This was the design element inspired by the Rotating Towers in Dubai.

Now there are a number of interested parties in taking it from the drawing board to launch.

'Because I was inspired by the Rotating Tower building in Dubai and the GCC region is leading the way in developing green cities, I feel sure the eventual proud owner is going to be a GCC resident' says Alastair cryptically.

Whoever they might be, they will go down in history as being a pioneer in the superyacht world, setting a new gold standard in superyacht design and power systems.

Green Agenda:
Alastair commented: 'The future in the Superyacht design world is incredibly exciting: the industry must adapt and meet the challenges of the global economy, the 'Green' agenda and the ever-shifting 'wish-list' to cater for the whims of discerning customers'.

Soliloquy's design brief was reached to ensure that renewable energies, along with eco-friendly materials and construction techniques, would confirm that this superyacht will become one of the Greenest of luxury yachts. The innovative overhead beam, sweeping forward to the bow, not only brings structural advantages and interesting visual aesthetics, but has been specifically designed to house three automated and pivotally mounted, rigid-wing solarsails.

This will allow Soliloquy's three solarsails to independently rotate through 360 degrees, and be coupled with the optimized rigid-wing design to add propulsion efficiency.

The superstructure has been enhanced by its efficient Photovoltaic surfacing. Once all the adaptable blinds have evolved out of the overhead beam, a total of over 600 square metres of coverage will be revealed. Each solarsail can be always angled to the sun, to optimise solar collection.

The hull's length-to-beam ratio has enabled a relatively low power requirement to reach competitive cruising speeds under sail and/or electric motor. The HMP system will allow for all renewable solar energy to be stored in the yacht's batteries, which in turn can quietly power the onboard electrics, without the need or noise of a generator. Accumulating solar energy for 12 hours allows Soliloquy to travel at 8 knots.

..and luxury for the guests:
Soliloquy also brings all the luxury one would expect of a superyacht, without the noise, vibration, fuel costs and vast pollution levels of a motor yacht, nor the crew manning levels needed of a cloth-sailed rig.

The design provides up to 12 guests an unrivalled and adaptable inside/outside socializing area - featuring alfresco living space on the main deck.




Next at Monaco:
Soliloquy's innovative design solution was presented in full by Alastair at the 4th Annual Future of Superyachts Conference, that took place on 22nd and 23rd June 2009, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It will next be on public display at the Monaco Boat Show in September 2009.