On the Décision SA shipyard, Ecublens (Switzerland), in the presence of his major partners, the private banker Thierry Lombard, Associate Manager of Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie, Philippe Merk , Managing Director of the Watchmaking Manufactury Audemars Piguet and of his official scientific advisor, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) represented by Patrick Aebischer, its president, Alain Thébault talked about the history and the foundation of the project and presented the new flying sailboat. Then Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon unveiled some of the main innovations of this technological jewel, which is the result of a close collaboration between sailors, the Design Team, the EPFL, the Décision SA and B&B shipyards, the HDS and MSE design offices and the “Papés”.
Credit : Gilles Martin Raget / l'Hydroptère
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l’Hydroptère is an extraordinary human and technological adventure and l’Hydroptère.ch follows the same principle. As a lab boat designed to conceive l’Hydroptère maxi, this catamaran will help testing a new geometry and especially the configuration with two rudders. The objective of this hybrid sailing boat: The versatility. Sailing nearly as fast as Archimedean traditional boats and achieving higher speeds in flight. First on Lake Geneva, then in the Mediterranean and abroad, l’Hydroptère.ch should give answers to precise questions related to flight dynamics and she will be an ambassador of the cross-frontier collaboration”, said
Alain Thébault during the conference.
l’Hydroptère.ch, a catamaran 10.85 meters long and with a span of 10.40 meters with a central structural peak, is equipped with rear tail units that can be raised, with a very accurate adjustment system of the foils and with planing hulls with removable steps. As on the 60ft l’Hydroptère, l’Hydroptère.ch will be equipped with a highly sophisticated on-board measurement system.
l’Hydroptère.ch was presented hung by a crane 6 meters over the public with the foils totally unfolded and slightly leaned.
All the team based in Switzerland was present and a part of the French team was also there for this important event.
“This christening is a very important day for the team and for myself. I am proud and moved. l’Hydroptère.ch is the result of years of studies and sailing sessions on l’Hydroptère but also of the work and the commitment of an extraordinary team. After a few weeks of adjustments and finish-works, we will be able to fly over Lake Geneva”, concludes Alain Thébault.
The team of l'Hydroptère.ch is going to start the static trials and calibrations of the platform before focusing on the sailing boat's fittings.
Happy and moved to see the result of three years of studies, design and building, impatient to see the first achievements but aware of the fine-tuning to make on such a prototype, Alain Thébault and his crew will sail on Lake Geneva in October.
From l'Hydroptère
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