Wind, water, hydrogen, new combustibles. An impressive array of innovations for the Aera, a 50-metre catamaran that embodies the state of the art in sustainability and new technology linked to production and the use of clean energy sources in sailing.
Aera, designed by Cor D. Rover Design, is the result of extensive research involving Royal Huisman, Rondal, a company specialising in high-performance sailing systems and components founded in 1975 by the Dutch yard, and the British company Artemis Technologies, a spin-off of the Artemis Racing team in the 2013 America’s Cup. Founded in 2017, Artemis Technologies is led by Iain Percy, twice Olympic gold medal winner and winner of a series of other titles.
The company produces maritime transport decarbonisation systems through the design and development of zero-emissions technology and vessels. In the context of the Aera project, Rondal and Artemis Technologies are responsible for the new catamaran’s most striking feature, the wing sail. This is a 35-metre-tall structure with a surface area of 245 square metres, similar to the one used by the BMW Oracle trimaran in the America’s Cup Valencia of 2010. The wing sail, which has no rigging, can rotate through 360° and is not managed by sheets or a deck winch.
The wing sail system comprises a carbon fibre wing with carbon and mylar flaps controlled by a computerised hydraulic system that optimises the sail’s angle of incidence and lift depending on wind and course. This system can also manage the most challenging weather conditions in safety while operating at extremely high levels of efficiency.
The tests showed that a traditional sail rig would need a sail area 40-60% greater to equal the propulsive efficiency of a wing sail. Aera’s wing sail can also be lowered to allow the yacht to pass beneath bridges, in the event of extreme weather conditions or during yard periods. To resume sailing, simply restore the wing sail to a vertical position and set the destination – the system will follow the route automatically by regulating the sail and flaps to make best use of the wind, with all its changes of direction and strength, all in the space of a few minutes.
However, the innovative wing sail is only one of the features that make managing the Aera such a streamlined operation. The second element is the energy provided by a 580 kWh that can power all the yacht’s hotel services for 11 hours, in total silence. Three energy sources are available for recharging the batteries. Firstly, there are four latest-generation 15 kW hydro generators developed by Rondal, which can be retracted into the boat’s hull.
The second source is a 60 kW hydrogen cell fed by three 62 kg hydrogen tanks at a pressure of 500 bar, enabling the hotel services to function for a further 72 hours. Finally, the batteries can also be recharged by two variable speed generators linked to Volvo D13-700 motors.
The fuel they burn is not traditional diesel but HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), a fuel obtained from sustainable sources like used vegetable oils, animal fats and organic waste through a process of hydrogenation. The use of HVO leads to reductions of up to 89% in CO2 emissions, between 40% and 80% in particulates and 8% in NOx, nitrogen oxides that have a damaging effect on health. As a result Aera provides practically emission-free sailing.
Cor D. Rover has created a large asymmetrical catamaran (maximum beam is 14.50 metres) with a unique lattice structure linking the decks and providing guests 670 square metres of space to enjoy. The movement of the deck profiles, not only aft, opens out roomy sections and creates a more direct contact with the sea.
Another of Aera’s distinctive features is the four-deck layout, an unusual solution for a sail yacht that has made it possible to create unique spaces and ambiences. In the exterior, for example, where the aft lines frame a glass-bottom pool, and the various lounges, areas and dining areas inside the yacht, as well as the four large guest cabins and the owner’s suite covering 44 square metres and a 153 square metre private deck with pool.
Here, too, sustainability is a dominant theme, in the choice of materials and the structuring of the spaces housing the equipment dealing with heating, ventilation and air conditioning. In the words of Royal Huisman CEO Jan Timmerman, all this makes Aera “More than just a technical step forward, but rather a total redefinition of sustainable luxury yachting that makes clean sailing irresistibly attractive to owners seeking environme ntal responsibility and comfort.”
Emilio Martinelli
