The zero-emission catamaran “Race for Water” has reached Madeira finishing the first leg on its journey across the Atlantic. The first of its kind yacht has been utilizing the innovative kite propulsion system developed by SkySails Yacht GmbH of Hamburg/Germany throughout the voyage.
The SkySails system was installed on “Race for Water” at the start of April prior to its departure from Lorient/France making the vessel the first kite-powered wind/solar hybrid yacht in history. The SkySails drive has demonstrated remarkably impressive performance on its maiden voyage. Under ideal conditions the kite measuring only 40m2 accelerates the 35m 100 tons yacht to a speed of up to 10 knots using only the power of wind.
Captain Jean-Marc Normant : “We are extremely happy with the performance and easy handling of the automated system.”
“Race for Water”, built at the Knieriem shipyards in Kiel/Germany in 2010 and formerly known as “Planet Solar” became famous for circumnavigating the globe powered exclusively by a solar electric drive. The catamaran now forms the heart of the “Race for Water” foundation which is dedicated to raising the public’s awareness of plastics pollution and educating it on preventing further environmental damage and pollution (for more information visit www.raceforwater.com). The kite system ideally supplements the self-sufficient propulsion system on board the vessel and supports the Race for Water Odyssey of circumnavigating the earth in the most eco-friendly and sustainable way possible. The yacht is driven by solar, hydrogen and now by wind power as well.
“Race for Water’s”first stopover on its 5-year circumnavigation odyssey will be Bermuda at the end of May where it will be a guest at the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup. The kite drive will be showcased during “open ship“ days. The Race for Water Odyssey is the starting point for SkySails Yacht GmbH to demonstrate how critically important it is to reimagine propulsion systems not only in commercial shipping but also in the superyacht business in order to save fuel, reduce emissions and highlight the owners’ concern for the environment.
The SkySails system for yachts originates from the renowned SkySails propulsion system for cargo vessels and has been adapted and refined for use on yachts. It is available for 15m+ yachts and superyachts and is designed to reduce fuel consumption, extend the vessel’s range, provide stable cruising comfort, enhace reliability and deliver environmentally compatible performance. Motoryachts in the 30 to 40m class with a limited range will now be able to cross the oceans under kite instead of being deckloaded on a freighter.
On her way from the Koror Islands to Chagos Islands, in the Indian Ocean, the MOD70 Race for Water trimaran has capsized yesterday at 8:15PM (GMT +1), 90 miles South East from the Chagos Archipelago, as they were navigating by night with 18 to 20 knots of wind. Further information about the exact reasons of the accident will follow. The crew is (…)
Initiated by the Race for Water Foundation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the “Race for Water Odyssey” (R4WO) will begin in Bordeaux (France) on March 15, 2015. The objective of this unique expedition is to conduct the first global assessment of plastic pollution in oceans by visiting island beaches situated in the 5 trash vortexes.
At 3.49 p.m. (Barbados time) White Dolphin crossed the finishing line of the Panerai Transat Classique 2012 and added her name to the list of winners of this exceptional race for exceptional yachts.
It seems the summer may never end in St Tropez this year. For more than one week straight, unseasonably hot weather has dominated the region, caused by a high pressure system that seemingly stalled over the northern Mediterranean. It was a week of hot sunny days and little breeze, unusual in its duration. Again today, not a cloud could be found (…)
The 2010 edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez concluded today with the prizegiving at La Citadelle, the 16th century fortress set imposingly overlooking the white-capped Golfe de Saint-Tropez. More than 1000 competitors and supporters gathered on a sunny, windy, beautiful fall day, as Andre Beaufils, President of the Les Voiles Organizing (…)
After sailing more than 8,000 nautical miles and spending 128 days crossing the Pacific, the world’s largest ocean, in a boat made of 12,500 plastic PET bottles, the Plastiki expedition and her crew have safely and successfully reached their planned destination of Sydney to cheers of welcome and support.
Le trimaran SVR–Lazartigue, mené par Tom Laperche, a franchi le premier la ligne d’arrivée de la Rolex Fastnet Race ce lundi à 5h38 du matin à Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, remportant ainsi le Line Honour Multicoque, distinction réservée au premier multicoque à boucler le parcours. Il aura fallu 1 jour, 4 heures, 2 minutes et 53 secondes à l’équipage (…)
À l’issue d’une course haletante, le Maxi Banque Populaire XI a franchi la ligne d’arrivée ce lundi au petit matin à 6h23. Après 1 jour, 18 heures et 3 minutes de course, l’équipage autour d’Armel Le Cléac’h termine à 45 minutes du vainqueur (SVR-Lazartigue). Un sprint qui contribue à poursuivre la montée en puissance de l’Ultime avant la (…)
Aboard Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue, skipper Tom Laperche and his crew claimed victory this Monday, July 28, in the 51st edition of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race, from Cowes (UK) to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (France). Already winners of the previous edition and current course record holders, the crew delivered a strong performance just months ahead (…)
Sotavento once again delivered the goods for the 37th edition of the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam, as we were treated to some of the best racing on the World Tour over the opening five days in Slalom X, while the Freestyle fleets continued to raise the bar on what is possible on flatwater over two intense days of competition.
The curtain falls on the first edition of the Swan Lake Garda Challenge, the third leg of the ClubSwan Racing’s Nations League and the first ever held on a lake. From July 23 to 26, the event brought the excitement of racing exclusively in the ClubSwan 28 class to the waters of Lake Garda.
Le suspense n’aura duré que le temps d’un près. Après le départ de la 2e étape donné à Gijon mercredi 23 juillet, Benoit Marie (1067) s’est rapidement envolé sur ses foils à l’avant de la flotte. Dans une allure au près où Nicomatic-Petit Bateau est censé être moins performant, il était talonné par la paire Pozzoli-Chapot (1026). Mais la (…)
The 2025 eSailing World Championship has concluded with a dramatic final live from Gdynia as part of the Gdynia Sailing Days festival. Tristan Péron (asere) became eSailing’s first double world champion after qualifying for five finals, including his previous title win in Trieste in 2023.
L’équipe de France SailGP a fait preuve d’une résilience exceptionnelle ce dimanche lors du Grand Prix de Portsmouth, en livrant une performance de haut vol, après un début de week-end marqué par un incident technique majeur. En effet hier, une casse de l’aile survenue juste avant les courses a contraint les Français à rester à quai, les (…)
It was not to be for Dylan Fletcher’s Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team as Peter Burling’s Black Foils cinched victory in Portsmouth, bumping New Zealand to the top of the 2025 Season leaderboard. Fletcher came away with a respectable second-place, while Sebastian Schneiter’s Swiss SailGP Team finished third in the team’s first-ever event final.
Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Connor O’Leary (JPN) won the Corona Cero Open J-Bay, Stop No. 10 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT). It was all-time Supertubes conditions, with solid four-to-six-foot surf in offshore wind, with the world’s best putting on a high-performance show in front of thousands of surf fans lining the (…)