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A long haul race

Publié le 7 July 2023

Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

Friday 7^th July 2023. The third day of racing at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge was all about endurance. A three nautical mile course set out in Monaco’s bay was the perfect opportunity for the 40+ teams from 25 nations to see how many laps their boat could achieve in a set time. A treat for the public who crowded onto the stand set up on Quai Luciana. At the same time, it was full speed ahead ashore at the 4^th Hydrogen Round Table organised by Yacht Club de Monaco in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Energy Transition Mission. This Friday also saw the Job Forum’s second recruitment session including participation by Monaco Marine, M3 and Palumbo SY.

The favourites endure

Wind chop and sunshine set the scene for the Endurance Trial put on for all three classes. In the Solar and Energy classes, the winners left no room for outsiders. Once again the Netherlands looked set to dominate the top spots in the Solar Class, a trend that has held since the start of the competition. Indeed, the Dutch from Sunflare Solarteam came first by completing the highest number of laps (22) in two hours, ahead of Han Solarboat then Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein.

In the Energy Class, where contestants have to design a cockpit and efficient durable propulsion system using renewable energies, based on a given quantity of energy, the Italians on UniBoat won with 27 laps in a contest that went down to the wire. They beat another Italian team UniGe Elettra into second, followed by the Croats’ Adria Energy Class Boat.

In the Open Sea Class certified boat category, the Netherlands clinched another cup with the first place of Vamp Marine, followed by a British pair, Vita-Seadog and Vita-Seal. In the non-certified group, TU Delft Hydro Motion Team out-paced the Italians on Ferretti Group.

Hydrogen balanced between challenges and feasibility

For the fourth year, industry players came together for the 4^th Hydrogen Round Table organised by Yacht Club de Monaco. Against a background of regulations and advances in technologies that require time to reach maturity, panellists discussed potential short and long term solutions to ensure hydrogen is an energy strategy for the future. This time, it was clear that different forms of hydrogen usage are associated with certain maritime applications but that limitations such as refuelling infrastructure and storage issues remain challenges that need to be overcome.Tomorrow, contestants in the Solar and Energy Classes meet in the morning for the popular slalom event when pairs of boats are timed on a slalom course to determine which is the quickest and most manoeuvrable. And finally, there’s the Championship Race when teams compete, again two by two, on a course set in the YCM Marina, urged on noisily by all the students – a real spectacle awaits. Everyone then meets on Saturday evening for the prize-giving ceremony.