Monaco a bubbling cauldron of alternative propulsion systems

8^th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge – 6-10 July

 

Wednesday 7^th July 2021. In its desire to support cutting edge innovations and make a long tradition eco-friendly, for the eighth year running Yacht Club de Monaco continues its work to support a switch from fossil fuels to alternative renewable sources, particularly solar and hydrogen, with this latest edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. Until Saturday, Quai Louis II has morphed into an international campus where no fewer than 22 universities and their hundreds of students have converged, all specialising in future technology in the newbuild and propulsion fields. Sharing knowledge is key to these budding researchers, hence why the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge offers them a chance to compete on the water while having plenty of opportunities to discuss their progress in between events.

 

Races start tomorrow Thursday 8^th July

Today, the event kicked off with the signing of a National Energy Transition Pact Commitment Charter at the opening ceremony for this 8^th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. For the next three days, 32 teams, including 22 universities, representing 16 nationalities and some 400 student engineers, will pit their intellectual and practical wits on the Monaco race area. Three categories are in competition, the Open Sea Class, Solar Class and Energy Class. A parade, sea trials, speed records (for all three classes), fleet race, a 16-nautical-mile Monaco-Ventimiglia-Monaco race, endurance laps, manoeuvrability challenge and a slalom event add up to an all-encompassing programme for competitors coming from Italy, France, Netherlands, Monaco, Portugal, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Croatia, Poland and the United Arab Emirates. Other teams are having to participate online such as China, Peru, South Africa and Indonesia, due to travel restrictions, and will be present for the Tech Talks.

Dutch out in force

As a maritime nation, the Netherlands has long been concerned and active in researching cleaner methods of propulsion. The work done by their universities on solar power for example is renowned. No less than five “orange” teams will lead the debates in the Solar Class, in the wake of Delft University, competing also in the Open Sea Class with its electric trimaran powered by hydrogen. Some students specialising in a dozen mainly aerospace-focused disciplines (mechanical engineering, aerial engineering, composites) from this prestigious establishment took a year’s sabbatical to focus on the design and  construction of their solar boat and participate at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. These are foiling boats designed to fly across the water. Delft University encourages many projects, land, sea and air, with over a hundred companies helping to fund their experiments.

 

Full day conference tomorrow Thursday

Energy transition, alternative solutions, and initiatives and sustainable thinking in the yachting sector is the theme for this full day of talks and presentations, open to all, in-person or online – registration at: www.energyboatchallenge.com

 

Provisional Programme

2021	Time	Solar Class	Energy Class		Open Sea Class	Exhibitors / Conferences
Thursday 8th July	9am	Drivers Briefing				10am – 6pm Exhibition open to the public   10am – 12 noon & 2pm – 4pm Exhibitor demonstrations   MCEBC Conference 10am – 5pm
	10am to 10.30am	Parade
	10.30am to 1pm	Sea Trials
	2.30pm to 4pm	Qualifiers			Manoeuvrability Challenge
	5pm	Tech Talk & Daily Results
	After the Tech Talk	Happy Hour
Friday 9th July	8am	Drivers Briefing				10am – 6pm Exhibition open to the public   10am – 12 noon & 2pm – 4pm Exhibitor demonstrations   9.30am – 1pm 2nd Monaco Hydrogen Round Table   11.30am Syroco Press Conference
	9am	Start of fleet race		Start of 16nm laps circuit	Start of 16nm Coastal Race (Monaco – Ventimiglia – Monaco)
	3pm	Speed Record
	5pm	Tech Talk & Daily Results Speed Record Prize-giving
	After the Tech Talk	Happy Hour – Job Dating
Saturday 10th July	9am	Drivers Briefing				10am – 6pm Exhibition open to the public All day 10am – 12 noon & 2pm – 4pm Exhibitor demonstrations
	10am	Start of Slalom event			Start of Endurance Challenge
	2pm	Start of Championship Race
	5pm	Tech Talk & Daily Results
	8pm	Prize-giving and closing dinner

 

 

For more information: www.energyboatchallenge.com

Press contacts: Yacht Club de Monaco
Tel: +377 93 10 64 09 – Email: presse@ycm.org