Sailing Systems
New types of rigs that improve performance, simplicity and functionality, to enable a more sustainable use of yachts.
Wings: for sail… and power
Fossil fuel consumption and high greenhouse gas emissions are an unavoidable aspect of large motor yachts. Large sailing yachts have a much lower environmental impact when they are under sail. Conventional sailing rigs can take time and crew effort to set up, manage and take down. Consequently, shorter passages are (too) often made under power. Although a sailing yacht’s slender hull shape has far less resistance under power, this reduces, but does not fully address the environmental impact.
Wing sails
A fine example of in-house innovation is the research into thin-walled solid wing sails, currently being undertaken by sister company Rondal, and development partner Artemis Technologies. The wing sail holds a rigid shape which leads to efficient wing profiles, and for example a lower heeling moment for the same forward thrust. Flaps are used to alter the camber, which can control the power of the wind via an automated system. The system is very user friendly, comfortable and safe. An in-house-built prototype was extensively tested, and dynamic simulations were performed in parallel.
Free propulsion power...
...and the comforts, luxury, and safety features of a mega yacht
The advantages of this revolutionary sail development are numerous and promising. The wing sail concept is not just for sailing yacht owners. The owners of future motoryachts powered by a wing can also enjoy the onboard comfort, benefit from both the “green footprint” of their yacht and the significant efficiency advantage of free propulsion power (the wind).
Owners who value effortless and sustainable exploration, as well as those who enjoy performance sailing, all stand to benefit. This wing sail development has many implications for future sailing superyachts. The team is ready to discuss these innovations with visionary owners to jointly translate them into reality.
Photos above: extensive testing of an inhouse-built thin-walled solid wing sail prototype
Benefits of the solid wing concept
User friendly, comfortable & safe
- Operational within 10 seconds
- Automated trim
- Automated max. heel control
- No lines and blocks on deck
- Controlled gybing
- Low drag & noise
Sustainable by reducing emissions
Autonomy
- Generate electric power under sail
- Be independent of fueling infrastructure
Design freedom
- Freedom in yacht design: only one interface with the hull
- Freedom in wing planform design
- Lower operational expenses
Lower fuel consumption
- Enabler for zero-emission fuels
- No extra, specialist crew required
- No sail replacements
- Less maintenance
Image above: some inspiration for the application of solid wing sails onboard motor yacht designs. AERA (below): her radical-looking Wing Sail is more powerful and at the same time it will be less complicated, quieter, and easier to operate than traditional sails: link
Wing masts for Wing 100
The rig of WING 100 is based on a proven concept and features numerous advantages. The twin mainsails can be hoisted in a few minutes, making sailing the easy choice. The rig (with integrated solar panels) ensures fast and efficient performance yet is comfortably managed by remote control. If the wind strength increases, the sail plan can be rapidly de-powered. Overall, the yacht’s advanced sailing capabilities offer a substantial reduction in energy requirements.
Wing masts or wing sail? The difference
A wing mast consists of an airfoil shaped mast with sail cloth behind, where the sail cloth produces most of the thrust and the mast transfers these loads to the yacht. A thin-walled solid wing sail is a rigid airfoil shape, often including flaps, that has no sail cloth and where the wing sail both produces the thrust and also transmits these forces to the yacht’s structure. Both concepts are often executed in an unstayed fashion and can be partly or fully rotating around the vertical.
Image above and below: WING 100
Automatic detaching diagonal batten
The square-top mainsail of Project 398 Ngoni is notable for the innovation allowing the square-top and its supporting diagonal batten to detach automatically and furl neatly into the styled performance boom with minimal intervention from the crew. To further reduce weight and drag, the team opted for continuous shrouds from deck to masthead with internal D-Tang connections where diagonal stays meet the mast tube – thus also removing the visual clutter of turnbuckles.
A true sailor’s yacht
The fast and efficient sail management systems of Sea Eagle, impress everyone onboard: she can get ready to go sailing in less time than the majority of sailing superyachts. Current Project 410 will also be a true sailor’s yacht. She will be ready to sail in a matter of minutes and capable of sailing very fast, in comfort, making the most of her long waterline. She will be equipped to explore the world; exciting to sail, even in light airs, with an impressive ability to build and increase apparent wind speed.
Aesthetically pleasing and decreased windage
The innovative carbon rig of Nilaya by Royal Huisman’s sister company Rondal, was developed with structured luff sails in mind from the outset: reducing the load on the hardware meant that the rig can be significantly lighter, as well.
Nilaya is the first large newbuild yacht launched with a configuration based on aforementioned method of rig design and engineering. The jib’s sail area is maximized. She has newly newly designed, curved spreaders, which have a significantly slimmer profile design.