Dutch shipyard Feadship and Merveille Yachting Co. have teamed up to create a cutting-edge luxury ECO-EXPLORER yacht concept that is capable of harnessing the power of the wind and sun as well as underwater turbines to generate its own energy.
This offers an unrivalled degree of autonomy in addition to extensive living areas onboard – an ideal combination for luxury yacht charters the world over.
The environmentally friendly ECO-EXPLORER is designed with a mast system with wings that harnesses twice as much power as a typical sailing yacht rig. The wings are operated by computers to adjust to conditions automatically, thus creating an entirely new category of yacht.
The ECO-EXPLORER will appeal to Owners who want the experience of a sailing yacht but with a top speed in excess of 20 knots while the heeling is completely controlled by computer. The weight reduction was realised with less fuel required due to the wings, and energy sourced through renewable sources on the go: Underwater turbines, wind turbines and solar panels regenerate the kinetic energy.
The design takes inspiration and experience from off-shore racing yachts along in addition to Feadship design principles for fast and safe ocean travel. The beam of 17m/55.7ft provides an abundance of interior space, plus exteriors which include an aft beach club and 15m/49ft swimming pool.
The fresh air flows in from the bow and the stern, providing air conditioning within. The interior has been designed for natural air circulation by implementing cutting-edge tubular structures, reducing the energy consumption required for air conditioning by one third.
Altogether, the ECO-EXPLORER uses 50-70% less fossil fuel than a yacht of similar size and over three times the range in fair winds and fair weather.