On Wednesday during a press conference organized in Lausanne, on the campus of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), which is the scientific adviser of the project, Alain Thébault and a part of his team unveiled the drawings of l’Hydropt?re.ch.
This new lab boat, whose building has already started in Brittany, will be a trial platform on a reduced scale for the future Hydropt?re maxi.
Following the same experimental process as Alain Thébault who built three models before the existing 60 ft trimaran, the main purpose of l’Hydropt?re.ch will be to test geometries and behaviours in real conditions in order to design l’Hydropt?re maxi.
The programmes led by the Hydropt?re team are scientific and technological projects, whose purpose is to revolutionize the world of sailing and further develop the innovative concept of flying boats. l’Hydropt?e.ch registers in this global approach.
Thus the design of l’Hydropt?re.ch was focused on the desire to maintain and optimize the equipment related to the boat’s speed and behaviour “in flight” whilst developing points such as versatility and navigation in light winds. These two elements are decisive for l’Hydropt?re maxi to attempt oceanic records (Atlantic and Pacific) or Jules Verne’s Trophy around the world.
The design studies for l’Hydropt?re.ch were carried out jointly by our engineers, our “Papés”, the EPFL-laboratories involved in the project but also all the engineering offices collaborating with the Design Team Hydropt?re, which coordinates all these people.
The geometry of l’Hydropt?re.ch is innovative as she is a 35 ft catamaran with a central structural peak and v-shaped foils. She will be equipped with a centreboard to sail with the foils out of the water when conditions are not favourable for “take-off” and no more with only one rear tail unit as on l´Hydropt?re but with two rear tail units known as rudder-elevator. This will improve the balance in flight. The rigging was designed so as to meet a wide range of weather conditions.
l’Hydrotp?re.ch aims to validate the choice of a new geometry as well as permitting the effects of numerous parameter combinations to be evaluated based on the boat’s performance. The boat will therefore be a veritable floating laboratory, equipped with ingenious mechanical systems that will enable a multitude of adjustments whilst sailing. The platform as well as all the elements and technologies tested on l’Hydropt?re.ch should be transferable to the maxi.
Hydroptere newsletter
Related articles
Astondoa 377 Coupe
A sporty line’ yacht in harmony with the marine environment that reflects the personality of the Shipyard's "Savage Ocean line"
