YACHTS & YACHTING
THE SILENT 60
UNFOLDS HER “ WINGS ”
Several years after presenting the first and only ocean-going production yachts in the world that are fully sustainable and powered by solar energy , Silent-Yachts now is the first boat builder to date to design and build boats for the use of a kite sail system .
The new SILENT 60 solar powered catamaran carries 42 solar panels for 17 kWp of solar energy to power two electric motors of up to 2x340kw . Backed up by a battery capacity of up to 286 kWh , the yacht can cruise efficiently with zero emissions solely on solar power for up to 100 nautical miles a day for weeks .
To further improve its green credentials and range , for longer crossings the first SILENT 60 is also fitted with a compact 9 or 13-sqm kite wing . The kite wing is optionally available on all SILENT models .
If you want to stop kiting , the automated app controls move the kite to a position right above the boat where it has the least pull on the line . From here it can be winched down electrically and collapsed over the foredeck ready for stowage .
A big advantage of a kite compared to a conventional sail is , that the kite flies in much higher altitudes and therefore gets more steady and stronger winds up there . Therefore , it can already be used at low wind speeds of less than 10 knots , when it would not make any sense to hoist a sail on a sailing boat of comparable size .
Images : Alberto Cocchi
A dedicated storage locker under the foredeck houses the kite wing and all its components , including an electric winch and a short , collapsible mast . On the first unit the mast is connected by four shrouds to pad eyes on deck that distribute the forces through the hull structure , but on subsequent deliveries ( 8 units with the kite wing option have been ordered to date ) the mast will be mounted on a baseplate inside the locker to leave the foredeck clutter-free .
After inflating the kite , it is released overboard to drift away on the surface of the water . Pulling on the lines launches it into the air and once it reaches the optimal flight height , it begins to trace a figure “ 8 ” in the sky and generates power to pull the yacht .
26 The Art of Luxury Issue 50 2022