Please select your home edition
Edition
GJW Direct - Yacht 2019 - Leaderboard

The Eco Warrior - SailWorldCruising.com newsletter

19/04/2022


The Eco Warrior

Leaderboard brokerage

leaderboard with question mark E6 launch 2021

Lone cruising yacht up in Australia's Cape York, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. - photo © John Curnow


Dear Recipient Name

Juxtaposition. The passage of time. Evolution. Meeting today's needs. These and a whole range of thoughts around the theme of compare and contrast had been floating around in my head. Pretty much in the same way as I had been evaluating what it would be like to be lazing away on a lilo in some idyllic anchorage, whilst undertaking the very passage to get me to said euphoria. An Arcadia, Utopia, Atlantis, or Eden.

You see, it is not that long ago that the idea of a cruiser designed to stay off-grid (not sure that was even a term back then) for prolonged periods of time came in the form of a monohull with perhaps a raised coachhouse, but a small cockpit, and an undignified helm position that was difficult to get to, as too were all the control lines.

Wind generator whirring away making the most of the stiff 25 knot SE Trade Winds - photo © John Curnow
Wind generator whirring away making the most of the stiff 25 knot SE Trade Winds - photo © John Curnow

 
J Composites 2020 - MPU   Marskeel 2019 600x500
 

Yet, by far and away, the characteristic elements were heaps of bulkheads down below, boxy little spaces for cabins, galley, dinette, and nav desk, let alone the head, and a disastrous lack of air flow. Even wind scoops funnelling huge amounts of breeze down the for'ard hatch had a hell of a time getting any of it to exit back out the companionway.

Now their performance was just about as uninspiring, but many were good sea boats, with a kindly motion, which was great, for you were never going to be able to outrun anything, especially your shadow. However, possibly the most memorable item on board all was the huge, outrageously noisy, and downright dangerous wind generator spinning its blades at near supersonic speeds, mounted on what was effectively a 316 telegraph pole, at, near, or part of the pushpit.

Said pole needed the hideous main stick with absolutely no rake, and more often than not the welded on steps to be on board with it to try and make it look less ghastly, and I am not sure that EVER worked. People used to be terribly disparaging about washing hanging on the rail trying to dry, but frankly I welcomed the distraction. Anyway, the redeeming feature was that they did, and still do, generate a decent amount of power.

Making the most of her shallow draft, this cruising cat is nestled away up against the mangroves. - photo © John Curnow
Making the most of her shallow draft, this cruising cat is nestled away up against the mangroves. - photo © John Curnow

 
Allspars December 2019 MPU   MPU brokerage
 

That was then, and this is NOW!

March on, and we get to today. One hull has grown to two, or even three. There is about as much glazing as a skyscraper, and the house power demand to run all the TVs, AirCon, USB devices, Nav Gear, MFDs, lights blazing on top and down below, five refrigerators, two ice makers, induction cooktops, al fresco BBQs, de-sal plants, pre-amps, amps, and 20-inch woofers, has grown to about the same height as said CBD towers.

Effectively, you have to start with: nothing is as cheap as litre of Diesel. True, this too has gone up a lot of late, but the mix today is always going to have solar, wind, hydro and fossil fuel to look after your house needs. What has changed, is what solar can deliver, and how much hydro will assist. However, arguably the biggest change is in the storage.

Lightweight solar panels on catamaran - photo © solar4rvs.com.au
Lightweight solar panels on catamaran - photo © solar4rvs.com.au

Best of all, you no longer have to have a set of Iron Ladies in each hull for propulsion, and then one (or a pair of) gensets in the same engineering spaces. Alternators can now deliver massive charging off the mains, and it won't be long before hydrogen fuel cells will be able to deliver the kind of backup grunt required for the apartments afloat.

Over the last few years, it has been our pleasure to liaise with, and run material from, Marc Hawxhurst, the President of Nova Luxe Yachts. His knowledge of the electrification of yachts, and the ability to distil it down to manageable pieces, has proven to be exceptional. Little wonder then that our last conversation covered off three important elements in the whole eco warrior equation.

 
Sea Sure 2021 - Blakes Toilets - MPU   Selden 2020 - E40i electric winch - MPU
 

Hydrogenation

The Deep Blue 50 SD offers an integrated electric saildrive solution for sailing yachts, urban ferries and water taxis. The propulsion system is emission-free and near silent. - photo © ZF
The Deep Blue 50 SD offers an integrated electric saildrive solution for sailing yachts, urban ferries and water taxis. The propulsion system is emission-free and near silent. - photo © ZF

"Hydrogenation is allowing the propeller to spin whilst sailing, and then this rotation energizes the electric motor, sending power back to the battery. All electric motors are capable of hydrogenation, but some are much better than others. Arguably more important than the type of electric motor, is the type of propeller you have. Servo-props allow you to change the pitch of the propeller, and this improves power generation ten fold.

"If you're thinking about hydrogenation the first question to ask yourself is how fast can your vessel sail? If the answer is less than seven knots then forget about hydrogenation in your buying criteria," said Hawxhurst.

Volvo Ocean Race yachts will have a new hydro-generator to act as a back-up power source - photo © Marc Bow / Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race yachts will have a new hydro-generator to act as a back-up power source - photo © Marc Bow / Volvo Ocean Race

"The Ocean Renegade R5 by Nova Luxe has the Torqeedo Deep Blue System with 25kw motors. It often sails at 10 knots, and at this speed each propeller regenerates 1kw per hour. There is a speed reduction of about half a knot. As you increase speed, power generation increases exponentially, as does the drag from the propeller. At say 15 knots the reduction in cruise speed is about a knot, but power generation more than doubles. As an added benefit, I expect hydrogenation to be the first course of action if considering reefing."

The Ocean Renegade R5, Oxygen, on show. - photo © Nova Luxe
The Ocean Renegade R5, Oxygen, on show. - photo © Nova Luxe

 
Upffront 2020 Foredeck Club SW MPU   GJW Direct 2020 MPU
 

Living at Anchor

Life at anchor is considerably better if your vessel has electric motors versus diesels. If you have electric motors, then you also have batteries, and you can use that electric power for other things whilst at anchor. "If you have two 15kw motors and a properly sized the battery bank for a 1c discharge, then you have 30kw of battery power," says Marc Hawxhurst.

N.B. Editor's note. I had to seek complete clarification as well. The only dumb question is the one not asked at all! '1c discharge' means it can discharge the entire battery rating in one hour. So a 10kw battery is capable of sending all 10kw to the motor in just one hour. Higher than 1c rating is usually for high performance things like drones. It's great, but gets hot. Below 1c are lower quality batteries, but they could also be more reliable and long-lived.

Back to it with Marc: "This is more than enough power to run everything on the yacht, including AC for over 24 hours. Induction cooktop, hot water, watermaker, electric grill and air conditioning should always run off inverters that get power from the battery bank."

The Ocean Renegade R5 - photo © Nova Luxe
The Ocean Renegade R5 - photo © Nova Luxe

"The more solar you have the better. This quietly charges the batteries all day long, and in many cases can overcome the power usage from the night before, as well as top the batteries back up. If it can't, then at some point in the day, at your convenience you would run the generator to charge the batteries. Using multiple sources of power to your batteries ensures you always have power when you need it."

"Even diesel models are taking steps towards a more enjoyable experience at anchor. The old strategy of 1 or 2kw of lead acid battery power for the house is changing. Instead, the house/hotel battery bank should be 5-10kw. Really, it should be sized to cover the amperage draw of all electronic devices and run everything for a 12-hour night."

"If you do this you do not need a generator to run heavy loads, then actually you don't need a generator at all. The alternators on motors have gotten better, and using them to charge the battery bank eliminates the added expense of the generator, and allows you to spend that money on additional batteries."

VETUS E-LINE, compact and efficient 48V packages enabling silent, environmentally friendly cruising with exceptional manoeuvring capabilities - photo © Vetus
VETUS E-LINE, compact and efficient 48V packages enabling silent, environmentally friendly cruising with exceptional manoeuvring capabilities - photo © Vetus

"Finally, the last tip which I recommend to propellerheads (nerds) is a 48v hotel bank. Get all the devices you can that run on 48v, and use Victron step down units to run the small loads that need 12v. You will save a significant amount of weight with a smaller wire gauge and everything runs more efficiently."

 
Ocean Safety 2021 - MPU   MPU E6 question mark static
 

Motor Sailing

Electric engine on a Norfolk Broads River Cruiser - photo © Torqeedo
Electric engine on a Norfolk Broads River Cruiser - photo © Torqeedo

"The benefits of motor sailing with an electric motor are generally not known. Once this information is understood (and better yet, experienced) it will be the death of diesel motors for many sailboats."

"Electric motors are always on, silently sitting there, just waiting for power. By contrast, you know when Diesels are on by virtue of the sound, smell and vibration. In a light wind situation, bobbing around at three knots, you can apply 100 watts of power into the water and what happens? You increase your speed by one and a half knots. Now you keep your sails from luffing, can hold a truer course, and you have steering control for tacking manoeuvres. Oh yeah, you are only using 100 WATTS! Your 30kw battery bank can operate for 25 days at this output."

In closing, Hawxhurst offered, "The cold hard truth is sailors motor sail over 80% of the time. Why not make this time as enjoyable as sailing under only wind power?"

Nova Luxe Elite 44 - photo © Nova Luxe Yacht
Nova Luxe Elite 44 - photo © Nova Luxe Yacht

OK. We have stories, lessons, inspirations and history to regale yourself with. Please use the search window at the top of the homepage if you are after something specific, as only the latest news appears on the website as you scroll down. We enjoy bringing you the best stories from all over the globe.

If you want to see what is happening in the other hemisphere, go to the top of the SailWorldCruising home page and the drag-down menu on the right, select the other half of the globe and, voila, it's all there for you. Also, we have just had a significant upgrade to our systems, and trainspotters will have seen that the button next door to 'Home' now says 'Editorial' which collects the latest from our team and also lets you see what each member has been up to of late.

Finally, stay safe, and ready for all that 2022 will offer,

John Curnow
Global Editor, SailWorldCruising.com

 
Hyde Sails 2017 March 300x250   TMS 2022 - BONOMI MPU
 


Barton Marine Sponsor Young German Sailor's Attempt to Circumnavigate the Globe
Johannes Li sets sail on May 1st aiming to become the youngest German to circumnavigate the Globe. Over the last six months he has restored a 32ft Nantucket Clipper with the help of sponsorship and limited funds raised from working as an electrician.

Oceana launches #RefillAgain Campaign
What's worse than single-use jeans? Single-use plastic bottles. Heidi Montag's single-use jeans brand, S1NGLES, is revealed to be launched as part of Oceana's new campaign #RefillAgain, which advocates for more refillable bottles & less single-use plastic

Solar Power Excellence: Sunreef Yachts launches a new Sunreef 60 Eco
Sunreef Yachts has recently launched a Sunreef 60 sail catamaran combining the shipyard's expertise in luxury catamaran design with the latest Sunreef Yachts Eco green tech solutions.

 
Cyclops 2020 - Dec2020 - MPU   Henri-Lloyd LOVE20 #1 MPU SW
 
Jubilee Sailing Trust extends deadline for make-or-break fundraiser
The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) has extended the deadline for its Covid Recovery Campaign to seek to raise the remaining donations required to reach its £500,000 target.

Get a grip! What's the right halyard rope for my sailing boat?
Choosing the correct line for your halyard doesn't just improve performance, it's essential for keeping your sails safe. Making sure you use the very best for your halyards is a worthwhile investment.

Squalt Marine introduces new CK70 catamaran
This catamaran, designed for ocean cruising, offers a maximum of space for the comfort of its guests. This aluminium catamaran is an all latitudes sailing.

 
Noble Marine 2022 SW - MPU   MPU business March April May 2022
 
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and collaborators launch world's largest kelp map
Kelp forests provide myriad benefits to nature and people in oceans around the world. They form the backbone of the ecosystems in which they are found, providing habitat and food for thousands of species.

Pajot Yachts introduces the Eco Yacht 88 Catamaran
Having unveiled the 115-foot "Eco yacht" project in 2020, Marc Pajot, in collaboration with the Italian shipyard "WIDER", is today announcing a new super catamaran with hybrid sail/diesel-electric propulsion.

A short to love every occasion...
Timeless, stretchy, technically advanced and designed to withstand a long day on shore or on the water. Meet Henri-Lloyd's new range of high performing shorts.

 
Stoneways Marine 2021 - MPU   Aquaventures 2021 Nov - SeaAngel - MPU
 
Wescom animation busts marine flares myths
There is much misinformation and myths surrounding pyrotechnic marine flares. This can create a negative perception towards these critical life-saving devices.

Dockendo – Changing the way yachting jobs are found worldwide
Dockendo – Making yacht recruiters more competitive, cost-efficient, and independent.

From Sunreef 62 to Sunreef 70: The story of Capi IV
Upgrading from a classic Sunreef 62 sail catamaran to a brand new Sunreef 70, the Owner of Capi IV was looking for a reliable and family-friendly yacht for dream cruises along the breathtaking coasts of the Dominican Republic.

 
RYA Membership - Personal 2017   Barts Bash 2022
 
Lyman-Morse launches Hull #2 of the LM46 Performance Cruiser Series
Just like hull #1, Arcadia is a high performance, cold-molded sailing yacht that features the comfort and ambience of a wooden yacht, while delivering 10 knots of speed under both power and sail.

11th Hour Racing Team and Save The Med partner up to restore Mallorca's marine ecosystem
11th Hour Racing Team and Save The Med Foundation have launched an innovative partnership dedicated to the regeneration of the marine ecosystem in Mallorca's Formentor area.

The Cruising Association and Cowes Week team up to produce 'first-timer' video
With the debut of the new Club Cruiser Class at Cowes Week 2021, the Cruising Association and Cowes Week organisers have teamed up to produce a 'first-timer' video.

 
North Sails 2021 Innovation - MPU   Crewsaver Ergofit MPU
 
Gorgeous J/45 Acadia launched
The next step in the nearly 4,000 mile "delivery" of the J/45 Acadia took place this past week. She was delivered to the commissioning yard in Les Sables d'Olonne, France.

Kiteboarding while cruising - Could kiting and cruising be for you?
Join BCA member, David Johnston, for a discussion and a hands on look at the all the equipment for kiteboarding, safety issues and how best to incorporate this sport with your bluewater cruising lifestyle.

Pollution: twice as many cellulose fibres as microplastics in the Atlantic Ocean
A study by three French institutes: Ifremer, the University of Bordeaux and the IRD (a public research institution), reveals that the surface water of the Atlantic Ocean is twice as polluted by cellulose fibres as it is by microplastics.

Cruising in lightning
A ground strike, where two electrically charged regions equalize, one in the atmosphere and one in the water or on the ground, causes the instantaneous release of an average of one gigajoule of energy.

Elan E6 Launched: New E-Line Flagship Model With Game-Changing Performance
Elan E6 Launched: New E-Line Flagship Model With Game-Changing Performance Elan Yachts reveals its new E6 has exceeded expectations in sea trials after the official launch event with Humphreys Yacht Design and Pininfarina

Discover Croatia with the experts, Goolets
For fabulous sailing, beautiful coastlines, calm anchorages and friendly marinas, it's hard to beat Croatia. With travel now opening up throughout the world, why not discover Croatia in style with the experts, Goolets?

Recent Projects & Custom Work from MarsKeel
MarsKeel is taking on more keel repair projects and custom work as we emerge from the pandemic. With decades of experience and service on a variety of keels, we take pride in each project we complete and our ability to exceed our customer's expectations

Zen Yachts is building the first production yacht equipped with a Wingsail
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.

The new Henri-Lloyd M//PRO Smock BLU 2.0
Made without compromise to performance from a recycled GORE-TEX® Pro face fabric in our own European Manufacturing Centre. The new M//PRO Smock BLU 2.0 has been updated for the season ahead and is our most Eco-Responsible racing smock yet.

SV Red Roo - Talking Turkey
Winter has again flown by so quickly, we have been at the dock since mid November and upon arrival it felt like we had so much time to do all we wanted but time goes so quickly, and we are now planning our last few weeks at the marina.

Selden 2020 - FOOTER

Noble Marine 2022 SW - FOOTER

This email was sent to the.recipients@email.address by YY Online Services Ltd.
Towngate House, 2-8 Parkstone Road, Poole, BH15 2PW
Registered in England No. 7895890

Our records show that you signed up to receive news from us on 1 January 2000

Please do not reply to this message as this address cannot receive replies.

You can unsubscribe at any time or email us here if you encounter any difficulties
Typhoon X RNLI 200 Drysuit2024 fill-in (bottom)Henri-Lloyd 2024 Black Friday