The BLUE RIBAND and THE HALES TROPHY

[SteveE]

We have just got involved with a company aiming to do the Blue Riband in 2 days, they will be using some of our software to do design and stuff. Looks a very exciting project, and if what we have seen so far happens, very good chance of the Blue Riband being back in the UK for a while.

This is their web site, boat being built in Plymouth: http://www.ecochallengers.co.uk/

 

[MapisM]

Interesting approach, surely very efficient.
Only makes me wonder about the inherent safety margins of such vessel.
I mean, IIRC Destriero met a few bad waves during its Atlantic crossing. Those onboard probably still remember that, but the boat didn't fall apart.
I'm wondering what could happen to this Atlantic glider thing, in similar conditions...
Intriguing stuff anyway, I'll keep an eye on it.
Which timeframe do they have in mind? I didn't look at all details on the website, but at first glance I didn't see any schedule.

 

[SteveE]

They are looking at the record in 2014, but the baby prototype is aiming for Cowes week this year I believe. The safety I agree with, 5 star cruising at 60 knots Southampton to New York is ambitious, but they have a good design team, and the CFD stats are being heavily scrutinised by some of the top UK universities.

It will be a great example of British engineering if they pull it off.

 

[penfold]

I'm slightly concerned that their design seems fairly advanced on the website, yet they are only now bringing in CAD/CAE software? The North Atlantic has a record of snapping long slender catamaran hulls into bits. Also a minor niggling complaint; what's with the overuse of the word exoskeleton, most engineers are happy describing these things as monocoque? It does look very interesting though.

 

[Cookee]

Richard's enthusiasm for his projects are boundless - he raced in the Honda series and now races in Dubai etc in the X Cat series, I'm sure this thing will see the light of day and make a good go of it - time will tell!

 

[SteveE]

I'm slightly concerned that their design seems fairly advanced on the website, yet they are only now bringing in CAD/CAE software? The North Atlantic has a record of snapping long slender catamaran hulls into bits. Also a minor niggling complaint; what's with the overuse of the word exoskeleton, most engineers are happy describing these things as monocoque? It does look very interesting though.

They have been using CAD/CAE software all along, its just ours speeds up things like FEA and CFD process, and also helps with CNC. They are obviously being very secretive about the design as I am sure all new builders are.

 

[SteveE]

Interesting approach, surely very efficient.
Only makes me wonder about the inherent safety margins of such vessel.
I mean, IIRC Destriero met a few bad waves during its Atlantic crossing. Those onboard probably still remember that, but the boat didn't fall apart.
I'm wondering what could happen to this Atlantic glider thing, in similar conditions...
Intriguing stuff anyway, I'll keep an eye on it.
Which timeframe do they have in mind? I didn't look at all details on the website, but at first glance I didn't see any schedule.

It has the makings of a great boat for the med, 5 luxury cabins and 60 knots, great for med cruising..

 

[AtlanticGlider]

ATLANTIC GLIDER Prototype is about to be built...

Just found the posts so thought I would join in on the debate as, for sure, we expect a lot of both interest in the project and indeed, seriously good questions which we'll do our best to answer.

Thanks to SteveE for starting this thread off.

The Atlantic Glider project now has Dag Pike on the team who was involved both with Destriero and Virgin Atlantic Challenger (as well as Azimut and a whole life filled with challenges!)

The purpoes of the project is:

To produce a high efficiency vessel which we call a HEV; one that is fast, stable and comfortable and a vessel which must dramatically reduce CO2 emissions as a result of the efficiency.

The key difference with this project is that Atlantic Glider is effectively a test bed for a commercial vessel unlike Destriero, Virgin Atlantic etc

Dag has written a release on "The Future of High Speed Ferries" which is worth a read: http://www.atlanticglider.com/category/press/

We welcome comments both positive and negative. The hull forms remain secret (for obvious reasons). But we are about to start the construction of 'Baby GLIDER' 18m+ now with 4 Yamaha Jetski engines.

Any support or help gratefully recieved as this is truly a Great British engineering challenge which we believe we can win and one that has an afterlife planned!

We'll keep you posted!

Best regards
Richard - Atlantic Glider

 

[GliderMarine]

Interesting approach, surely very efficient.
Only makes me wonder about the inherent safety margins of such vessel.
I mean, IIRC Destriero met a few bad waves during its Atlantic crossing. Those onboard probably still remember that, but the boat didn't fall apart.
I'm wondering what could happen to this Atlantic glider thing, in similar conditions...
Intriguing stuff anyway, I'll keep an eye on it.
Which timeframe do they have in mind? I didn't look at all details on the website, but at first glance I didn't see any schedule.

Glider goes through the waves instead of smashing over them, she is effectively sitting on top of two 3000bhp torpedos way above the wave height ;-)

 

[GliderMarine]

I'm slightly concerned that their design seems fairly advanced on the website, yet they are only now bringing in CAD/CAE software? The North Atlantic has a record of snapping long slender catamaran hulls into bits. Also a minor niggling complaint; what's with the overuse of the word exoskeleton, most engineers are happy describing these things as monocoque? It does look very interesting though.

Gliders Hulls which we call blades, are unique in their structural make-up, their more like aircraft wings (pointing forward) ....but its a bit more complicated than that!, as the structure (like the BRITISH Ariel Atom car) is Exoskeleton its hard to explain without getting in trouble for saying tooooooo much.

Well its great to see the inquisitive and positive debate, Warmest The Atlantic Stig ;-)