Major alternative energies meeting kicks off tomorrow.
For ten years now, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge organised by Yacht Club de Monaco has been establishing itself as the big meeting for alternative energy sources, honouring a long tradition that “Monaco has always been a mecca for yachting since 1904 when the Principality organised the first powerboat meetings,” as YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri recalls.
Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Credit Suisse, BMW and SBM Offshore, the event has attracted involvement by big name shipyards such as Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Monaco Marine, Sanlorenzo, Lürssen and Palumbo SY Refit. From now until Saturday, YCM opens its quays to some 500 engineering students, all here to demonstrate their prototype’s efficiency and share experiences in open source. As part of the collective ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ approach, the main objective is to compete against each other on the sea but with plenty of opportunities ashore to exchange, learn and move their technologies forward.
Back to back contests at sea…
For four days, 25 nations, 31 universities and some 50 teams in total, nearly 500 international students will be competing on the sea in a range of contests, most of which the ever-increasing number of spectators can watch from the stand erected on Quai Luciana, as well as visiting the paddocks (entry free for all). A grand Parade, sea trials, speed records (for all three classes: Solar, Energy and Open Sea), a fleet race, a 16 nautical mile race around marks or following the Monaco-Ventimiglia-Monaco route, endurance, manoeuvrability and slalom contests – all highlights that make up the programme.
Tomorrow, Wednesday 5th July, to open this 10th edition, the Yacht Club de Monaco launch in collaboration with Aqua superpower the first ever YCM E-Boat Rally. The challenge being to attract a record number of electric boat builders to demonstrate the potential of one of the solutions for the future of pleasure boats on a rally from Monaco to Ventimiglia and back (21 nautical miles).
…and conferences ashore
While the three classes of boats showcase their capabilities at sea, competitors, be they students or industry players have plenty of opportunities to meet ashore, share knowledge in open source and debate the industry’s future.
Programme: a first conference on Thursday 6th July entitled Challenges, Engagement and Adoption with the presence of Boris Herrmann and the main America’s Cup syndicates, including Luna Rossa and American Magic (registration required: www.energyboatchallenge.com/en/conference-uk).
On Friday 7th July it’s the turn of the 4th Hydrogen Round Table organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Energy Transition Mission and Yacht Club de Monaco. Monegasque French and international institutions will get together with those involved in hydrogen development to take stock of the current status of hydrogen technology. This year, seven teams have taken up the hydrogen challenge including SBM Offshore.
Malizia-Seaexplorer: first tacks in Monaco
Malizia-Seaexplorer, the latest addition to Team Malizia founded by Yacht Club de Monaco Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi arrived in the Principality on Monday having grabbed 3rd place at the end of The Ocean Race, a 32,000 nautical mile crewed round the world race in stages. The IMOCA has been invited to take part in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge and is in the YCM Marina on the SeaLab pontoon where visitors can see for themselves the avant-garde projects, prototypes and demonstrators including non-CE certified boats competing in the Open Sea Class.
Malizia-Seaexplorer is fitted with Solbian solar panels and hydroelectric generators enabling it to run solely on renewable energy and has an Ocean Pack to capture oceanic data while sailing that it transmits to the scientific community. Boris Herrmann chose his Club to announce his participation in the next Transat Jacques Vabre that leaves from Le Havre on 29th October 2023 for Fort-de France in Martinique. Boris will be on the start of this legendary double-hander with Will Harris, longtime co-skipper of Malizia-Seaexplorer.
