Calypso - the greenest sailing boat of them all
by Sail-World Cruising on 12 Sep 2010
Green sailing boat Calypso-Photo from Southampton Boat Show SW
She looks like - and is - a traditional Contessa 32. But she has a deck of the new greener Kebony, a hybrid engine, solar panels and recycled fixture and fittings - and that's just the beginning. She's the greenest sailing boat in the world, and she's been finished just in time for the Southampton Boat Show.
Calypso is the brainchild of the environmental organisation The Green Blue and legendary boat builder Jeremy Rogers. It's been a nine month project, but now she is launched and should provide inspiration for a generation of boat builders.
Her introduction at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Friday (10 September) marked the end of a challenging and remarkable nine month project. It was time for The Green Blue and Jeremy Rogers boat builders Ltd to unveil to the public Calypso, the new greener version of the Contessa 32.
Raising a glass to celebrate the completion of the massive venture with supporters and friends of the project, Jeremy Rogers (pictured, right, with son Kit) commented, 'It’s been a very interesting process and we’ve had lots of interest in the boat already. As for what happens next with Calypso we are doing further testing on the engine and trying to make her in to the ultimate green machine and educate other boat builders and users about making their boats greener. We also have plans to incorporate some of the environmentally friendly elements in to future boats that we build.'
'It all started as a small idea for a simple, green boat, but as more supporters got involved the project grew somewhat and took a more interesting and complex turn', commented Kit Rogers, Jeremy's son.
The project provided a unique opportunity to build a bespoke yacht while exploring new products and technology to improve the environmental impact of the boat and the sailing experience. Apart from the all the other green innovations, the yacht also has fuel cell technology and a whole range of energy efficient products. Everything, from holding tanks to varnish, mattresses to antifouling has been considered.
So Calypso embodies a magical combination – a green vision, a classic yacht, a legendary boat builder and a sector showing a growing appetite for and interest in sustainability, all supported by the only bespoke environmental boating programme of its kind – The Green Blue.
Jeremy Rogers said: 'It’s a great relief to have completed the project and we appreciate all the help we’ve had throughout; from the likes of Harken, Garmin, The Green Blue amongst many others.
It was a journey of no compromise on the one hand - on safety, performance and quality but also a journey of pragmatism and constructive debate on the other - how to hold fast to green ideals yet create something accessible and achievable for manufacturers and yachtsmen alike.
About The Green Blue:
The Green Blue is the joint environment programme created by the British Marine Federation and Royal Yachting Association for anyone who enjoys getting out on the water or whose livelihood depends on it. They help boat users, boating businesses, sailing clubs and training centres to reduce their impact on coastal and inland waters.
They offer practical advice, help, guidance and even money saving tips for anyone who wishes to help keep our coasts and inland waters the pleasant places that we so enjoy.
They work to raise awareness, conduct scientific research, identify environmentally friendly products and offer easy best practice advice to anyone keen to make boating as sustainable as possible.
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