|
|
2011 Regatta We need Volunteers Subscribe to our channel Let's get together - Join our Group Join our Events Page in facebook |
Surfing the Net >
Bits we found surfing the netG.L.Watson - The Genius and Awe-inspiring Creations
On April 12th, Hal Sisk is coming all the way from Ireland to present his new publication, "G. L. Watson – The Art and Science of Yacht Design", a new book by Martin Black about the genius and awe-inspiring creations of renowned British yacht designer George Lennox Watson, at the IYRS Newport Campus. Author Martin Black, a corporate lawyer and yachtsman, has passionately devoted decades of his leisure time to uncovering Watson’s career and life. Drawing from previously unpublished material held in museums, archives and private collections of Europe and the USA, and illustrated by some of the most fabulous yachting images never published before - many by the River Clyde’s forgotten 19th Century marine photographers - the author sheds new light on the development of the Big Class cutters, the fierce rivalry between Kaiser Wilhelm and Edward, Prince of Wales and the inside story of the epic struggles to regain the America’s Cup. We did a little search on Watson's work and here's a summary of his succesful 32-year career.  At the age of 22 Watson set out to found his own yacht design office and his first design, Peg Woffington, featuring an unorthodox reverse bow, drew much attention to his work. His yachts became renowned for their seaworthiness and durability and very soon prestigious families like the Coats family of Paisley, the Allan Brothers (of the famous Scotch-Canadian shipping line), the Vanderbilt family, Earl of Dunraven, Sir Thomas Lipton, the Rothschild family, Charles Lindsay Orr-Ewing, Whitaker Wright and Wilhelm II (German Emperor), were among his clients. Watson designed 432 yachts, lifeboats and other vessels during his 32-year career, an output which averages one new build launched every 3.5 weeks. His most famous design, HMY Britannia, was commissioned by Edward Prince of Wales (subsequently King Edward VII) and had a long and successful career passing to his son King George V. It remains the most successful racing yacht of all time, with a racing career spanning 43 years.  The G.L. Watson archive, one of the UK's most significant maritime collections, is now stored in the firm’s dedicated archive, with ongoing conservation, cataloguing and reproduction work still taking place. The collection contains a diverse range of material from drawings and photographs, to press cuttings and specification documents, also plans, books, diaries, many of them available on enquiry. Super Green - Super Yachts
We read that British Designer, Alastair Callender, recently received the highly coveted Condé Nast Innovation & Design Award for his 58m superyacht concept Soliloquy. This gave us the incentive to search the net for Super Green - Super Yachts and it seems, there are quite a few. Read on. Soliloquy Fully compliant with the green agenda, this zero-emission 190-foot yacht is
 The three fixed sails of the yacht are covered in photovoltaic cells, which generate ample energy to power the yacht without any emissions, while the interiors of the yacht feature the use of recycled leather and natural fiber upholstery. The $60 million super yacht has reduced running costs and aims to save up to 2000 liters of fuel, which a comparable yacht consumes in one hour.
 Why the name Soliloquy?A "Soliloquy" in a Shakepearian play is when a character divulges their inner most thoughts and deepest desires to the audience. In the same way, this unique superyacht is saying to the world that she is Super-Green, Eco-Luxurious and has zero-emission capabilities. Also, the first syllable "Sol" means "Sun" in latin.
BiographyAlastair Callender has completed his Boat Design degree, from Coventry University, UK, achieving First Class Honours with Professional Enhancement.
Alastair grew up a stone’s throw away from his sailing club in Chichester Harbour, UK, which in turn, has nurtured an absolute passion for all things nautical for as long as he can remember.
At the age of 16, Alastair was incredibly fortunate to have a life-changing careers talk from one of the world’s most renowned Superyacht designers, Andrew Winch. This fuelled Alastair with a thirst to pursue a personal ambition: to work within this sector of the maritime industry.
Planet Solar - World’s largest solar-powered boat Draped in white, the 24-1/2 feet high, futuristic Swiss catamaran has made its  "This is a unique feeling to see in front of me today a boat which I so often dreamed about… The aim is really to show that we have the technology today, not tomorrow… It’s not in a laboratory or DIY. It is a technology that is reliable, able to perform and economically interesting." The 18 million euro ($27.4 million) catamaran ably reaches a top speed of 15 knots or 27 kilometers per hour, and has a seating capacity of 50 passengers. It was built at Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel in northern Germany. Sausalito Houseboats or Floating Homes
 Every where in the world real estate by the water is sought out and is usually expensive. So houses built on boats is becoming a world industry whether for ocean or fresh water areas offering more affordable options. The idea is not knew of course and whether in Hong Kong or Amsterdam or in Canada or Sausalito CA, there have been people of all incomes living year round on boats. So all of us who have attended IYRS and picked up a craft of dealing and shaping wood or have been learning about electrical installations and from now on getting into the secrets of composite structures, should not despair if times do not offer job opportunities. If some of us are not lucky to be restoring a beauty from the early days of luxury yacht era, opportunities for builders and craftsmen, are around to take any slack of the job market. Stay flexible and look around. [Manos Castrinakis, '07] What is a Floating Home?   Paid walking tours of the houseboats are offered, usually on Saturdays and Sundays by a local guides, some of them include visits to the interiors of the houses. If you have children with you, it's a good idea, to keep a close eye on them
Bellow you will find a list of the marinas in the area to begin your search, where there's a variety of marina services for boats to floating houses. |
 Contrary to myth, that the sailors themselves made these objects, a large number of them originated in the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport during this period. Today, antique sailors' valentines are collectables, valued for their unusual beauty. Many sailors' valentines, both new and old, can be found today, on Nantucket, Massachusetts. The images here, with Sailor's Valentines, we found, searching the net. |
Russian Boats near the Arctic Circle
In searching the net for items of interest to our alumni we have discovered this piece from the Karelia area of Russia, bordering Finland and the Arctic Circle. Boats are built all over the world where water exists even if that turns to solid ice in winter months. Those building wooden boats are linked amongst them by the craft and the practices of construction. Enjoy the article and let us know what you think of it [Manos Castrinakis, '07] Every Russian, ever addressed with the question “what is the Russian North for you” would immediately imagine the  Until 20th century boat-construction had always been a vital necessity for Karelia, the Russian region, located close to Saint Petersburg, former capital of the Russian state. Boats were the only alternative to the poorly developed road connection and one can still encounter typical local wooden boats, hand-made by the household owners in some of the villages in Karelia. According to the estimates, there are app. 60 000 thousand lakes in Karelia. Traditions of constructing wooden boats are still living, and efforts have been undertaken to attract attention of the younger generation to this traditional craft.  For our ancestors, boat-making process itself was comparable to the process of building a house. The boat was seen as a friend, or a savior, carrying fishermen through the rough waves of cold unfriendly northern lakes. It was a guide, taking a man through the maze of life, a mediator between the world of dead and the real world. No wonder that the boat masters were among the most admired and demanded people in every northern village. The “kizhanka” boat is a well-known northern Russian boat with a centuries-long history. It derives its name from the Kizhi island in the Onega lake – the island, which is today a historical and architectural monument, enlisted in UNESCO’s World Heritage. Numerous settlements and villages scattered over the Kizhi skerries required an efficient, available and swift-sailing boat. Ideally suit for the rough Onega lake with its frequent storms, which in many ways resemble the marine sailing conditions, broad and spacious “kizhanka” could take onboard over 10 persons.  Due to its specific shape, this boat is highly steadfast, has a large carrying capacity and high speed. Traditionally, “kizhankas” were sailing under sails and oars. The length of the boat was usually 4-6 meters, the “kizhankas” were used in the first place for transporting the goods across Onega lake (the second largest lake in Europe). Butter, fish, game, cattle was taken to Saint Petersburg and Kronstadt for sale (maximum weight of cargo was 800 kg). Traditionally, material for the boats was prepared in late autumn or spring. An experienced master, working alone, could make a boat for two weeks, and just for a few days with a skilled assistant. During one year the boat master usually constructed on the average 15 boats. The technological process for constructing “kizhanka” has not changed over the centuries. (pic.2)  The boat-building summer camp has three shifts with two weeks each. Boat construction takes place on the  The idea of the project was born at the Maritime Festival at Douarnenez, France in July 2004. Historical wooden ship “Sanctifier Nicolas” belonging to the Petrozavodsk club “Polar Odysseus”, a folk group and boat-building brigade took part in the festival. One of the central tasks of the masters was to build the “kizhanka” boat in five days and float it out. The project seemed to be risky, but the aim was achieved. The boat was floated out last day of the festival and it was left in France. The spirit of the festival, the atmosphere of the traditional marine culture, the admiration and delight, expressed for the boats by the local people prompted a thought of upbringing the similar attitude to the own culture and history among the Karelian teenagers.  If you are interested in the event, or simply have any questions about Karelia and Petrozavodsk, please feel free to contact us at erd@petrozavodsk-mo.ru (External relations departments of Petrozavodsk City Administration) |
WALLY HERMES YACHTS. AN ART OF LIVING ON THE SEA.
We discovered a new megayacht design by the famous dutch builder WALLY which we thought you may enjoy reading about. This particular design of the boat named WHY is aimed to offer to its owner the dream of living on a luxury property on a island , with the extra flexibility of the freedom to move, that a yacht can offer. We have found and reproduced here what some of its key developers had to say. [Manos Castrinakis, '07]  WHY goes even further. This revolutionary concept of the moving island is developed with the latest and most advanced sustainable technologies, recycling thermal energy, as well as any organic and inorganic waste. The architecture of the whole project fits perfectly in the environment – there are no excesses, nothing is superfluous, the impact on the sea is minimum. A new and unique way to live on the sea while caring about it, protecting it, and loving it. All this has always been my dream too, and when I met Pierre-Alexis Dumas I realised that this dream could come true thanks to the common values and ethical principles we share. From the invention of the compass to block capitals, from the rudder to the first steps on the moon, man discovers and pursues his dreams. With its feet on the ground and its head in the stars, Hermès, since its creation in 1837, has grown, generation after generation, through innovative projects, executed with high standards and an artisan spirit. I have always thrived on the dreams of great visionaries like Magellan, Jules Verne, Saint-Exupйry and Paul Klee. Like theirs, the path of Hermès is to pursue its dreams… Excelling itself, learning, pushing ever further the quest for excellence and the celebration of beauty in the world. A world we must protect. Today, Hermès steps into the marine world with Wally. We quickly recognized our common values, the values of well-made, singular, functional, refined and elegant objects. This encounter was just what we needed to inspire us to brave the open seas. Together, with Luca Bassani Antivari, we hope to open a new path, to offer a new lifestyle that is different, serene, contemplative and respectful of the environment, moving slowly on the water, combining the pleasure of sailing and absolute comfort. Wally Hermès Yachts – WHY – is the union of our dreams, the green path that carries us away in its wake…  Asked the kind of maritime vision it inspires these were the answers provided by its designers: An amphitheatre on the sea. Like Portofino.A piece of land that had broken off, but wasn’t adrift. Living the legend of the mythical wave. Or that of the whale. Surfing and Moby Dick: the image of the “tube” and the white whale. A new territory. Did this new territory require you to come up with a new way to design a boat? It is indeed a strange project. Its atypical side draws me in, like when you enter a new world. Hermès needs projects like this. WHY addresses the very real problem of consumption, which is today exacerbated by the global context. We provide an answer in a field where clients are responsible for setting an example, embracing a new ethic. What this market needs is a boat designed with the environment in mind. This new way of moving on water must give way to a new way of managing energy, its sources and uses, how to recycle it, etc. The same goes for the choice of materials; we have to limit the effect on the environment. In terms of design, you don’t approach a boat like any other object. It’s a world that’s already defined by the very shape of the hull. We didn’t design a boat, we gave shape to an idea. The sea is one of the last spaces where people can indulge in absolute freedom. Deciding to live on the sea means rethinking everything that’s been done before. You need to start from scratch! For example, we provide a real jogging track inspired by coastal paths running around the ship. Above all, we had to transpose and translate functions into forms, and vice versa, by merging the viewpoints of Hermès and Wally. A boat moves. And not everyone has the constitution of a sailor. So it has to be as stable as possible. This is the fundamental conceptual base for the whole WHY project. We tested it for six months in the specialised tank testing facility, to see how it performed in big seas. The outcome is that, in full swell, the bow moves a tiny bit and the stern stays completely still. Anchored, the boat creates a totally flat surface behind it, like an Olympic-size pool where you can swim in total peace. On the bow, there’s a seawater pool 25 metres long that follows the curve of the prow. Its slowness dictates a new aesthetic, while its function makes it beautiful, bizarrely beautiful. Naturally, the idea for the structure came later.  On the question how did the idea for a triangular hull emerged, the designers answered: Dumas: Everything happens in cycles. We don’t move forward because we get bored of a shape or a colour, but rather because our values evolve with time. My inspiration is still the Greek caïque, roomy, generous and slow. This eulogy to slowness is demonstrated in such a magnificent way. A pared-down craft with nothing superfluous about it. We needed a stable hull in order to hold the sea comfortably. The idea of a triangular hull, which doesn’t exist in the world of leisure boating, came from the utilitarian merchant marine. Antivari: Yes, he’s right, it took me a few months to let go of my idea, my taste for speed! In summer 2008, I came across a picture of a supertanker while reading a professional magazine. A cable-handling vessel, used in the geo-mining and seismological industry in the North Sea, invented by a Norwegian naval engineer, Roar Ramde, and fully patented. There was nothing new about this ship. It had been in use for twenty-five years. As soon as I saw it, I picked up the phone and called my consultant naval architect, Mauro Sculli. He looked in the Rina, the Italian naval classification registry: never seen or heard of before in the world of yachting! It was perfect. We had our hull. Pezzini: Instead of choosing a structure that conveys and calls for speed, we opted for a dynamic that involves slowness via stability. When you look at this cable-handling vessel in its rigging, it’s ugly, stark, powerful, unbelievably stable; its proportions are astronomical. And then, you see that it’s like an adjustable spanner. All its potential is concentrated in a single function. Dumas: And its maximum speed was 14 knots. The entire project took off from there. In terms of energy consumption the chief naval architect Mauro Sculli said: In terms of size, this boat offers the same accommodation as a gigayacht that is close to 100 metres. Its propulsion is equal to that of a 65-metre boat and the energy needed to live on board is equal to that of a 58.5-metre boat. Our megayacht can function on only one third the amount of energy used for a 90-metre boat. As for the diesel-electric propulsion system, the idea was not to put it in the stern, which is where it normally goes on yachts, but rather in the bow. This is a revolutionary approach in the world of yachting. Using Ramform, the same tried-andtrue hull used for cable-handling ships, made it so that we had to totally overhaul the normal interior layout for the WHY boat. The engine room occupies the narrowest part of the boat, which has numerous advantages: better layout for inside volumes, improved comfort, less vibration and less noise in the living area.  Here are the boats technical specifications Dimensions & capacity Length Over All 58 m Performance Maximum speed 14 kn Light sources Patios with skylights 3 Standard energy Diesel-electric propulsion Green energy Auxiliary propulsion system: SkySails® Computerised energy management system Optional green energy Fuel cells Environmental impact Bilge water separator |
1-7 of 7