Planetsolar is the first solar-powered boat around the world

The first ever entirely solar-powered ship to circle the globe embarked on this tremendous journey that has taken it through 28 countries, 11 seas and 3 oceans two years ago and lasted a whopping 585 days. Reportedly named the MS Tûranor Planetsolar, its journey started on the 27th of September 2010, at 2:00 p.m. and ended at 2:21 p.m., in Monaco.

The ship has started a new journey during this month, touching at famous ports of the Mediterranean Sea, like Spain’s Barcelona and Mallorca, as well as Cagliari, on the island of Sardinia. The crew of this massive sailing wonder says that it’s actually “more than a ship”, now being a “mobile battery”. It can power up concerts and lightshows, can hold exhibitions and do all sorts of activities that other ships cannot, in every port it docks in.

The name Tûranor was picked from the fabled Lord of the Rings book, by J. R. R. Tolkien, where it stands for “the power of the sun”. Built as a catamaran, it measures 115 feet in length (35 meters) and presents itself covered in 537 square meters (5,780 square feet) of photovoltaic panels (a total of 38,000 individual solar cells feed 6 huge blocks of Li-Ion batteries) with 18.8% yield, all the ensemble generating around 260,000 kWh of electricity over the so-planned 60,006 kilometer voyage (37,000 nautical miles).

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The beautiful charter yacht O’Pati from Golden Yachts

Golden Yachts Shipyard from Athens launched the beautiful 40-meter superyacht O’Pati last year, a gorgeous cruises that combines high performance with Italian style in a sleek design with powerful and modern lines.  The yacht was designed by Giorgio Vafiadis & Associates and looks extremely powerful and elegant thanks to the dark hull that’s able to turn heads everywhere.

You can see it’s extremely fast just by looking at this yacht’s beautiful design and O’Pati definitely has the power to back up her sportive looks. To prove the last statement, this superyacht can reach a top speed of 32 knots and boasts a cruising speed of 24 knots which is extremely fast for its size. There is also the crew of 8 members ready to take care of every guest, highlighting the level of comfort that people can achieve while on this specific boat.

Regarding space distribution, note that the outer-deck areas are at the guests’ disposal; they are divided in a flybridge, a main aft deck with its extraordinary ambiance and the bow area. The flybridge is pleasantly inviting, boasting lounge spots in the form of sun-beds among an intimate atmosphere.

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GHOST is the world’s first super-cavitating watercraft

There are a lot of new inventions and weird man-made gadgets or machines that are truly amazing and stunning in all the ways possible. Such a thing would be combining an attack helicopter and a stealth jet fighter. Actually, the guys at Juliet Marine Systems from New Hampshire have really done it – they’ve designed the Ghost marine platform.

Possibly being destined for US Navy’s use, the project has been developed in complete privacy, while the manufacturers assure us that the vessel is invisible to radars, while also being more economically efficient and a lot faster. They also declare that it’s the first super-cavitating watercraft in the world.This principle refers to the process of surrounding an item with air so that it goes faster and smoother through water, downing the friction coefficient. The main structures that assure this to the Ghost are the two submerged buoyant tubular foils.The particular system used here is represented by the fact that when the boat’s gas turbines propel it forward, the mass of water it passes through is deflected outward at the front of each foil – this creates the cavity we were talking about. All these drastically reduce the friction between the hull and the environment, considering that friction in air is 900 times less significant than in water.Not yet destined for heavy naval fights, these vessels could be used as patrol vehicles around the perimeter of naval fleets or as light protection for commercial vessels from pirates.

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This 2,700 HP Corvette powerboat costs $1.7 million

The 2012 ZR4 MTI was recently released by Corvette, featuring a designer trailer and a speed boat, all brought together for a price of $1.7 million. After their introduction in the car-boat combo industry with their red catamaran, the Corvette designers have now presented this futuristic version, which comprises an aerodynamic design, carbon fiber and extreme technology.

The body was conceived in such a way that weight was the most non-needed factor. That is the reason for the usage of a high quantity of carbon fiber. It was also designed to be as aero-dynamic as possible, as well as keeping the sharp look of the powerful Corvette car; good examples for this are the multitude of parts that belong to the car, including the head- and taillights.

The vehicle is propelled by two twin Mercury engines, each of developing around 1350 HP. This can bring the total of 6 passengers a huge adrenaline rush, along with the 8000 W power music system. The designers have also thought about offering a more facile access into the boat, so, the vehicle features a sliding door instead of a ceiling.

The price includes the tow which itself can be used as a trailer. Details like engine flush system, power washer, Apple TV, ground LED lights are also included.

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Lamborghini power-yacht

Introducing the Lamborghini power-yacht. This 50 foot, carbon fiber beast sports all the speed and luxury you’d expect from a super-car maker. Did I mention the prototype is under construction?! MmmHmm… check it!Though it started as just a sketch, the prototype is in production and is rumored to be powered by either two 550hp V12 Motori Marini Lamborghini engines or two twin 950 hp Seatek turbodiesels. As for the interior, it will be styled by none other than Fenice Milano, famous for working their magic on the Rolls Royce Ghost.

Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu Speedboat Concept

The Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu Speedboat is a conceptual design created by Ben Walsh, a graduate of the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, and the designer responsible for the Cadillac Converj concept's interior. Currently he is employed at PSA Peugeot Citroen as an automotive interior designer.

The Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu Speedboat is a 30-foot (9.1 meter) vessel which has an incredibly
smooth and clean profile. The chrome and metallic blue color scheme is directly inspired by the paintwork of the Veyron Sang Bleu model - obviously. The hull is formed from a blend of carbon fiber and aluminium.

Powering the Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu Speedboat concept is a modified-for-marine-use version of the Veyron's quad-turbo W16 engine with 1,000 horsepower.

Aqua Star AS2 Electric Sea Scooter Equips You for Added Adventures Under Water

AquaStar scooters in Florida have developed a pair of recreational submersibles which both offer ease of use and relative affordability when compared with other undersea vessels.

The two-person AquaStar2 AS2 is based on the smaller, single seat Aquastar1 AS1. Both subs share a similar design, but the AS2 has an additional seat and an extended helmet.

The AS2 offers scuba diving-like capabilities, but without certification, no cumbersome attached gear, and no experience required - especially if you're the passenger.

The AquaStar2 AS2 can dive to around 12 meters (40 ft), and achieve a top speed of 3.1 mph (5 km/h). The batteries last around 2 hours, although the air supply will need changing after 1 hour and 10 minutes. If for any reason the electrical system should fail, a backup system - using the compressed air tank - can bring the sub to the surface quickly and safely.

The easy to use handlebars offer control over direction, depth, and speed.

Because the AquaStar AS2 is an open submersible, the pilot and/or passenger can leave the sub, swim around freely to investigate things more closely, and then return to the vehicle for more air.

AquaStar are marketing their scooters mainly at the tourist and resort markets. Although they could be just as easily operated as a personally-owned luxury toy.

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Adastra superyacht launches in China

The Adastra, unveiled last week in China, is the new floating pleasure palace of billionaire Anto Marden who commissioned its construction five years ago.Designed by  designer John Shuttleworth, the Adastra was built in Zhuhai, China  at the cost of a cool $15 million.The striking trimaran has an integrated ship monitoring system, and can even be controlled with an Apple iPad within a 50-metre range.

With a length of 42m, it has a maximum speed of 22.5 knots, weighs in at 52 tonnes and has the capacity to host nine guests – with room for up to six crew members.Adastra has been described by Boat International as “one of the world’s most amazing super yachts, that could spell the future for efficient long range cruising”.

Adastra’s 16 metre beam creates a spacious saloon area on the main deck which offers superb views through a panoramic window and accommodates a lounge area, dining table, and navigation station.

A forward facing door through the saloon window gives easy access to a large sunbed on the foredeck.

The aft deck has a sofa and bar area to port and a dining area to starboard, further aft of this there is space for a 4.9 metre tender and directly below is a garage which can store a 3.1 metre tender.The garage door has been designed to fold out and create a large dive platform. Extra space has been created below deck by slightly flaring the central hull just above the waterline.This area has been split into two sections with a full-width master cabin located aft with access from the deck saloon, and two further guest cabins, accommodation for the crew, and the galley located forward of the engine compartment.

The main helm station, which has seating for two, is positioned in a raised pilot house situated between the aft deck and the saloon area and forms part of the cross beam structure.The Superstructure is carbon fibre with Nomex honeycomb core, the hull is Glass/Kevlar foam sandwich and the interior is light weight oak cabinetry using honeycomb panels.

To help reduce weight, virtually every aspect of the boat is custom built. This includes carbon fibre hatches, portlights, ladders and even hinges, which are all built specifically for the vessel.Anto Marden, who is based in Hong Kong and made his fortune in the shipping industry, will be able to sail the state-of-the-art boat between the two islands he already owns off the coast of Indonesia.

Palmer Johnson Premieres New SuperSport Series

Even successful superyacht designs sometimes benefit from modifications. Such is the case with Palmer Johnson’s long-standing SuperSport Series, from the design boards of Nuvolari Lenard. Three new SuperSport models are now available, with a wavepiercer hull form for increased stability and lower fuel consumption.

In fact, one is already under construction, for delivery next year. Referred to as the 48m, meaning 48 meters (157 feet), she’s shown here. If you’re familiar with the SuperSport megayachts, the 48m clearly bears a family resemblance. The same is true of the other two new models, a 42m and a 78m, measuring 138 feet and 236 feet respectively.
 Palmer Johnson decided to employ a wavepiercer hull design for its advantages in cruising comfort and efficiency. Wavepiercers may look like catamarans due to having twin hulls, but they feature super-sharp demi-hulls, for slicing through seas. Their fine bows also don’t pitch the way that traditional monohulls sometimes do. The design overall boosts stability and reduces roll. It also reduces wear and tear on those aboard. These advantages are major reasons why wavepiercers are often selected as the hull forms for passenger ferries and some military craft, and are therefore making inroads into megayacht design.

Palmer Johnson is further switching the construction material for these new SuperSport Series megayachts. It’s employing carbon fiber, rather than aluminum. Carbon fiber is known for its light weight, so that has an impact on performance, too. Palmer Johnson expects the first 48m SuperSport to top out at 32 knots, for example. The shipyard also states that the 48m SuperSport will consume less than 264 gallons per hour (1,000 liters) per hour at that speed. Of course, she’ll have transatlantic range at a more leisurely 15 knots.

 In terms of the megayacht’s general arrangement, the 48m SuperSport will bear popular elements like a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck and floor-to-ceiling windows lining the saloon. If you look at the rendering above, you’ll see cutouts in the megayacht’s bulwarks. These will enhance the views from inside the saloon. Equally attractive views await from inside the skylounge, essentially encased in glass. The megayacht will also include a beach club and outdoor areas aft that can join inside ones as indoor-outdoor spaces. A 36-foot (11-meter) beam and gross tonnage beneath the all-important 500 level add to the appeal.

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Modern Yachts Design by Kevin Schopfer, “Oculus”

This is an amazing Yachts design inspired by Jaw and eye socket bone structure of large oceanic fish and mammals. This yachts was named Oculus, its a modern Yachts with futuristic body design.

 Designer E. Kevin Schopfer has hell-of details


 Oculus is the first “design launch” of Schöpfer Yachts LLC. This 250-foot vessel was designed by E. Kevin Schöpfer, founder and owner of his namesake company. Designed to accommodate 12 guests in extraordinary comfort and style, Oculus is a long distance cruising yacht capable of speeds upwards of 25 knots. The exterior styling is representative of the jaw and eye socket bone structure of large oceanic fish and mammals. Featuring a dramatic reverse bow configuration, the yacht’s armature balances an elegant expression of symmetry and structure. In addition to the bow, Oculus also features a “low rider profile”. This slightly lowered surface allows for new side recreational areas, alternate dockage access and light cruising openness.

 Lateral retractable side panels close this area when heavier wave action is indicated. The interior features of Oculus focus on a 12 foot high ceiling in the main salon, a cylindrical double height dining room, central stair and elevator tube, and seemingly anatomical ceiling and floor lighting extensions giving definition to the seating areas. The second level is the dedicated Owner’s suite.
Living areas and bedchambers are divided by a series of four freestanding tubes, which house bath and storage necessities.

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