The Le Havre (Seine-Maritime) marina welcomes for its inaugural cruise a trimaran unlike any other.
The “Make-Sense” is in fact an eco-trimaran prototype, designed on the basis of a Neel 51 and left the shipyards of the builder in La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime).
But, if it has seen the light of day, it owes it first to the will of its owner who will make it his main residence.
“When I got on a boat, after five minutes, I felt like I was at home.
And as soon as I came back to land, I missed the sea ”, assures Philippe Baudet, going around“ his bubble of comfort ”.
“I wanted a project that made sense.
By boating while respecting the environment, ”he continues.
Because if his sailboat is special, it is because it is equipped with two electric motors capable of producing their own electricity when the ship is under sail.
A system that already exists but neither on this scale, nor with the desire to make it the main source of energy on board for maneuvers or its current consumption.
Between four and five days of autonomy
“It's a bit like the principle of a wind turbine except that the propellers turn thanks to the current generated by the boat as it moves forward.
This is called hydro-generation, ”says David Steckar, of the Boatin'France concessionaire, who has pooled skills around this innovative project.
"At anchor, the accumulated electricity allows me to be autonomous for between four and five days with maximum comfort", continues the happy owner Philippe Baudet who has invested nearly 1 million euros, "with an additional cost of around 3% for modifications linked to this new engine.
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Two generators can, if necessary, recharge the lithium batteries "for only 2.50 euros of diesel" and in a few tens of minutes. A hybrid system essential to safety for this trimaran capable of carrying up to 8 passengers and whose journeys will be scrutinized by professionals in a sector where electricity is only in its infancy.
