Category Archives: Technology

Transatlantic Race 2011: Catch the Live Panel Discussion Broadcast April 26 at 5:50 PM EST

In late June and early July anyone fortunate to be quayside in Newport R.I. can witness the awesome spectacle of 32 ocean-going yachts set sail in the Transatlantic Race 2011, which charts 2,975 nautical mile course from Newport to Lizard Point, South Cornwall (UK). The Royal Yacht Squadron, New York Yacht Club, Royal Ocean Racing Club and Storm Trysail Club organize the event.

The fleet includes sleek traditional designs, such as the 94’ William Fife-designed Sumurun, and sophisticated super yachts, such as the 289’ custom Perini Navi clipper sailing yacht Maltese Falcon. The Atlantic Ocean crossing can potentially challenge these renowned racers and their teams with fierce storms, testing seas and even icebergs.

Robert Towbin, owner/captain of Sumurun, who won two previous transatlantic races, is currently preparing his classic yacht, which was built in 1914, to endure this first challenge of the 2011 sailing season. “If you have an older boat, a race of this complexity takes a lot out of it, so we are putting a lot of work into it to get it up to date,” said Towbin.

Three separate starts will “stagger” yachts of different sizes and ability so that they will arrive in England in proximity to each other. The larger boats hope to finish the race in 8 to 12 days, while the smaller boats estimate 18 to 22 days to finish.

Maltese Falcon

The final race group of legendary competitors includes the VOR 70 crewed by PUMA Ocean Racing Team, the Newport-based second-place finisher in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race and entrant in the next edition as well; Rambler 100, George David’s maxi rocket ship that has been tearing up race courses since the beginning of the year, including breaking the record for the RORC Caribbean 600 and taking line honors at the Pineapple Cup-Montego Bay Race; and ICAP Leopard, which holds the current record from Ambrose Light to Lizard Point for monohulls using powered sailing systems.

A TR2011 Panel Discussion is scheduled for tomorrow, April 26, at 5:30 PM EST. Topics will focus on the history of transatlantic racing, the challenge and appeal of transoceanic racing, as well as the upcoming TR2011 and its entries. Panelists include George David, owner/skipper of Rambler 100; Chris Gartner, captain of Maltese Falcon; Larry Huntington, owner/captain of Snow Lion; Bob Towbin, owner/captain of Sumurun; Rives Potts, Rear Commodore of NYYC and owner/captain of Carina; and sailing historian and author John Rousmaniere.

Here are some useful links to Charter a Yacht for a Regatta or Sailing Event and a calendar of Upcoming Yachting Events, Regattas and Boat Show Dates Worldwide.

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Our Luxury Charter Experts Onboard the Amazing Axcell 650 Power Catamaran Sport Yacht: Luxury, Speed, Efficiency and Fun!

The Axcell 650 is described as combining the best attributes of a power cat with the thrill of a Hovercraft. Although we were not fortunate enough to sea trial the yacht, spending time on board with owner and developer of her patented technology, Bruce Barsumian, was quite revealing.

Barsumian, founder and president of MACS

Bruce Barsumian

Research, is the owner of a myriad of intriguing patents, primarily for the counter surveillance industry. Axcell’s proprietary HybridAir’ Technology is his first nautical invention. “This is his brainchild of sixteen years’” his son told us, “Dad started with a sixteen footer mounted with a blower that you would use to circulate air in a factory. It went so well that he went from there to end up with this, 65 feet long and 21 feet wide.”

The Axcell is engineered to utilize a Hovercraft lift fan to pump air pressure into twin air-cushioned cavities to provide lift and lubrication to the hulls. A significant reduction in friction allows the hull to transition smoothly from displacement mode to high performance planing. The system allows for a comfortable ride, high speed, outstanding fuel efficiency, and excellent handling and performance. “Our goal from the outset was to design the ultimate 65’ cruising yacht that combines the best in engineering, design, performance, styling and comfort,” stated Barsumian.”

“It’s an air-lifted hull. What we’re doing is talking 6% of the power off the main engines, which are C18s, through a hydraulic pump that powers the blowers that lift half the weight off the boat. So they’re lifting 30K lbs. of the boat that weighs around 60K lbs. So we have less friction in the water to make us more efficient. At a fast cruise of 36 knots we burn 90 gallons, and at a slow cruise of 26 knots we burn 45 gallons of diesel per hour. By using the airlift technology it enables us to burn less diesel and obtain speeds up to 40 knots.”

The AXCELL 650 features Euro-style cruiser lines created by award-winning mega yacht designer J.C. Espinosa, who successfully gives the vessel a volume that belies its 65-foot LOA, and an elegance on a par with the finest motor yachts in the range.

The expansive open salon and formal dining and lounging areas are roomy enough for sizeable social gatherings. The trendy interior features engineered zebrawood with a fine polyester finish, stunning onyx countertops, plush leathers and rich fabrics and textiles.

Everything on the boat is based on efficiency. We were particularly impressed with the portside galley that houses full size appliances. Designed as a kitchen to cook in, the galley includes a convection oven, trash compactor, dishwasher, and roomy fridge.

Accommodations are for six guests in three ensuite staterooms. The pilothouse offers 360-degree panoramic views through port, starboard and aft drop windows for an airy, open feel. A delightfully sprawling sunroof feels like a convertible top. Other notable features include a fully garaged 16’ R.I.B. tender, twin 1150 Caterpillar turbo diesels and distinctive custom signature exterior gills that are stylish and functional.

It is evident that the Axcell 650 is a luxury sport catamaran that incorporates cutting-edge marine technology for cost-efficient fuel operation. Moreover, the yacht features stunning and functional interiors. As a relative newcomer to the market, we predict that the Axcell 650 will quickly become a powerful industry contender.

Specifications
LOA: 66.5 ft.
Beam: 20.8 ft.
Fuel: 650 Gal.
Waste Capacity: 55 Gal.
Cruise Speed: 36 kts.
Maximum Speed: 40 kts
Propulsion: Twin Caterpillar C-18 1150 HP ZF 500A Transmissions
Generator: 15KW Westerbeke with Sound Shield

Photos courtesy Axcell Yachts

Explore the world of Luxury Crewed Catamaran Charter and Bareboat Catamaran Charter and cruise to the most popular destinations in style and comfort.

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We Will Power the Whole World: Florida’s Clean Energy and Ocean Energy Technology

Admittedly the concept of powering the whole world seems far fetched. Yet researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering are making that claim.

The relatively new field of ocean engineering is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to developing new technologies to explore and harness the ocean’s resources. Ocean engineers design, build, operate and maintain ships, offshore structures, submarines, sailboats, tankers, tugboats, yachts, oil rigs, underwater robots, and acoustic sonar.

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University are adopting existing green energy applications, such as hydrogen, wind and thermal renewable energy resources, and converting the engineering principles to harvest the power of the ocean. Ocean engineers are designing ocean turbines, that operate much like wind turbines, to produce electricity that is transmitted to shore. Ocean thermal energy is a resource that can be produced by driving warm surface water to colder ocean depths. Underwater electricity can be generated to produce hydrogen that will be pumped to waiting tankers at the surface for transport to shore.

Will Florida power the world? Unlikely. But global dissemination of green ocean engineering research promotes a greener world armed with alternatives.

Our companies and the yachting industry strongly encourage conservation of environmental resources by promoting Green Chartering for Low Carbon Emissions.

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Dockwise Yacht Transport and Floating Life: A Match Made in Heaven

Some unions are meant to be, and when Floating Life, an international yacht management and service company, was introduced to Dockwise Yacht Transport a year and a half ago, it seemed a match made in heaven. Floating Life bears responsibility for some of the world’s most prestigious yachts and demands the highest degree of professional competence from those involved with the coordination of countless technical, administrative and logistical details. In the case of transporting Floating Life’s three 131- foot Norman Foster-designed luxury superyachts back and forth between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, Floating Life entrusted Dockwise Yacht Transport.

MY Ocean Emerald, MY Ocean Pearl and MY Ocean Sapphire are the basis of Floating Life’s unique fractional ownership program, by which 24 families have owner access to the yachts for a specified number of days per year. With fractional ownership, these families are able to reserve their cruise dates, are assured safety and first class service, and significantly reduce cruising costs.

The yachts will be berthed in Greece, Sardinia and the south of France this summer. Toward that end, both Ocean Emerald and Ocean Pearl completed a voyage in March from Martinique to Toulon aboard Dockwise Yacht Transport’s Super Servant 4.

Dockwise owns a total of four yacht carriers, including the 686-foot (209 meter) super ship Yacht Express, and operates on a regular schedule to deliver yachts around the world. The ships, looking something like giant moving marinas when they come to town, use their unique loading method to allow yachts of any size to be safely floated on and off as cargo. The carriers submerge themselves by pumping nine million gallons of water into their ballast tanks; the vessels are floated into place one-by-one, then sea-fastened before the ship pumps dry to prepare for boat transport. Once the ship reaches its final destination, the process is reversed so the yachts can safely disembark with captains, owners and/or crews aboard to take them by their own power to new adventures. Dockwise Yacht Transport also orchestrates lift-on/lift-off arrangements with third-party carriers for clients wanting a more flexible shipping schedule or to explore destinations where the float-on/float-off ships are not scheduled to go.

 

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America’s Cup and ACWS: Introducing Exhilarating New Events and Technologies

Fifteen yacht clubs from 12 countries have committed to field teams to compete in the next America’s Cup, scheduled in San Francisco in 2013. Launching the event are pre-Cup races called the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS), which start this summer in Europe and the US. The America’s Cup now features two new high-tech catamaran designs representing the next generation in sailing technology, as well as onboard cameras for the ultimate in armchair participation.

The ACWS will start in Cascais, Portugal in August, followed by a race in Plymouth, England in September. A third regatta in San Diego will take place between mid-October and early December. Two more events will take place in 2012 before the Louis Vuitton Series, which selects a “Challenger” among the competing teams to face off against the America’s Cup “Defender” Oracle Racing in the 2013 America’s Cup.

Competing on the ACWS circuit will be the AC45 catamaran, a smaller version of the AC72. Both new designs are expected to reach speeds two to three times faster than previous IACC class monohulls. In fact, the tremendous speed and power, particularly of the larger AC72, introduces an entirely new and spine tingling element of danger to the competitions, as well as showcasing extraordinary breakthroughs in sailing technology.

Please follow this link to view a wide range of charter yachts available for the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco

Please see our Yachting Events Calendar and our Regattas and Sailing Events page for schedules and available charter race and spectator yachts.

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