Zen Yachts is building the first production yacht equipped with a Wingsail
by Zen Yachts 24 Mar 2022 11:52 UTC
The ZEN50 is the World's first production yacht equipped with a wingsail. This full carbon catamaran was designed from scratch for ZEN Yachts, an acronym that stands for Zero Emission Nautic, by award-winning naval architect Julien Mélot. It embodies genuine zero-emissions, high comfort and performance.
The blue water capable ZEN50 lightweight carbon hulls are combined with a huge solar roof for an unrivaled 1:1 solar power versus displacement ratio (16 kW / 16 tonnes), making this yacht completely self-sufficient in terms of energy.
No-compromise solar boat
The hulls have been designed akin to those of performance catamarans, using light composite material like Carbon fibre and Corecell™. In order to ensure minimal drag, the catamaran's hydrodynamic performance was optimized through an in-depth Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis.
"I know from experience that to achieve complete energy self-suf iciency, a true solar boat needs to have a low energy consumption and a large solar roof area to harvest solar energy. The ZEN 50 excels in both with her gigantic solar roof and her high performance lightweight hulls," - Julien Mélot, designer of the ZEN50, explains why it's a no-compromise zero-emission catamaran.
The majority of solar catamarans currently on the market are equipped with a large generator, making them de facto hybrid diesel-solar-electric boats. They of er great speeds in a variety of conditions but are less eco-friendly than true zero-emission vessels. We wanted the ZEN to be a true solar boat, that's why the first unit in construction is not equipped with any generator and will not carry a single drop of fossil fuel onboard (indeed even the tender is electric and recharged by the mother vessel).
Zen Yachts' owners aim to truly be eco-friendly, and have already implemented this philosophy in many aspects of their lives, including their homes and cars, and are looking for true eco-conscious solutions in yachting as well.
"Our customers are aware that they will be sailing a performance catamaran with zero emissions; they are not looking for a floating hotel, but rather want to enjoy the experience and reconnect with the elements. The wingsail acts as a range and speed extender, allowing those who dream of sailing the oceans with their families to do so without leaving a carbon footprint"
But what makes the ZEN50 so unique is her self-sufficiency. This craft offers great comfort and safety for endless voyages where energy is 100% harvested onboard. In addition, the yacht can be equipped with a dive compressor, e-water scooter, e-foil, electric jet boards, and an electric water maker, allowing her crew to explore the seas like never before.
Fully automated semi-rigid Wingsail
The OceanWings32 has been designed and built by Ayro, a spin-off of the world class yacht design and naval architecture bureau VLPL. It is an offspring of the Oracle wingsail, which changed the course of sailing history by defeating the conventionally rigged Alinghi in the 2010 America's Cup in Valencia.
VPLP has continued to develop and automate it over the years, and it was installed on Energy Observer in 2019. Two years of field feedback have allowed the Ayro team to fine tune the algorithm commanding the wingsail. The ZEN50 is the first series production leisure craft to feature this fully automated wingsail.
For those who want to undertake ocean passages with zero emissions and no particular knowledge of traditional sailing, the ZEN50 equipped with the wingsail OceanWings32 is the perfect vessel.
Space and comfort
The Zen50 combines the speed of a performance catamaran with the luxury of a large motor yacht and the ease of use of an electric vehicle.
In addition to an electric tender, dive compressor, Starlink internet and 2 helm stations (cockpit and flybridge), The Zen50 features two large day beds, up to three dining areas for over 10 people, one professional galley and two wet kitchens, five heads, up to four double ensuite cabins, one bunk double and one single together with both saloon and dining areas converting into extra sleeping areas.
The flybridge measures 34m2, the same space offered by a 80' motoryacht.
A wide range of interior layouts are offered and include different cockpit configuration, charter and owner cabin versions, wet outdoor galleys and head. Clients can choose their preferred interior materials and style.
Zen Yachts' showroom in Barcelona
Zen Yachts will be opening their showroom in Barcelona's Marina Vela in the course of April 2022, not far from where the first hull is being built.
Zen Yachts will start building the second boat as soon as the first one comes out of the mold. The team is calculating the overall carbon footprint of the ZEN50's construction, which will be made public once the project is completed.
Zen Yachts commits to reduce its carbon footprint until it reaches net zero by 2030.
Specifications:
- Length Overall: 15.7m
- Beam: 8.4m
- Depth Molded: 2.7m at midship excl. keel
- Displacement (light): 16 tonnes
- Draft (design): 1,3m (4.3ft) incl. keel
- Passenger Capacity: 12
- Berths: 12 (4 x double + 2 x single + saloon)
- Building Material: Carbon Fiber - Corecell™ composite
- Certification: CE Cat A - Unrestricted with 12 persons
- Propulsion: 2 x 40 kW brushless DC motors; Saildrives
- Main Battery Pack Capacity: 160 kWh Lithium
- Solar Roof Peak Power: 16 kWp
- Wingsail: Oceanwings® OWS 3.2 by Ayro©
- Backup Battery Pack Capacity (Nav/Com/Wing): 10 kWh Lithium
- Main System Voltage: 48V - Low voltage for total human safety
- Accommodation Voltage: 110V or 220V
- Max. Speed on e-motor only: 10 kn
- Max. Speed on e-motor and Wingsail: 14 kn
- Cruising Speed for continuous operation - solar only: 4.5 - 5 kn
- Cruising Speed for continuous operation - solar and wing: 6 - 10 kn
- Cruising Speed day time: 8 - 10 kn
- Range Over 24 h: 180+ nm