The prototype of the famous rig of future concept idea, the 57m superyacht Green Jet project with Aero sails by Erik Sifrer from Mides Design, which was featured on CharterWorld in February 2011, is successfully in the water as well as in the wind.
57m superyacht Green Jet project
‘Little’ Green Jet is born.
This particular Aero sail is 8m high, all carbon, installed on 5.5m long hull and deck called Seascape18 (boat of the Year 2010 in Düsseldorf made by Slovenian company). All the computer modeling and calculations, analyzing, scale model predictions and testing along this 8 years of development turned out to be right and very precise as the Aero sail system is very simple, efficient and easy to operate and navigate. Aero sail is world novelty in the field of rigging for sail yachts, as the system does not require any deck equipment at all and provides a completely singlehanded and very easy to manage sailing solution. Even for non professional sailors sailing is really easy. It can be even completely automated, in addition to greater safety, efficiency and ultimate visual impression. There are numerous benefits showed out in the sea and wind trials which were made by professional Slovenian sailors and skippers.
The first test sailing of Aero sail in the Slovenian sea, in Piran bay
Advantages of Aero Sail for Superyachts:
1. Extremely simple and easy single-handed navigation of the vessel, which can be fully performed or operated by one person.
2. The possibility of complete automation of system – with computer touch screen.
3. Perfectly easy to manage the rig also for the inexperienced sailors.
4. Good responsiveness and efficiency in water, extremely easy and fast tacking.
5. Purity of the deck as the Aero sail system that does not require absolutely no deck equipment in order to make a clean line of decks and cabins of any kind of sail yachts.
Aero sail under first test sailing
6. More space for other deck activities and relaxing program.
7. The whole of rig is up to 40% lighter in comparison to conventional sails, which is a result of elimination of heavy and complex deck equipment, deck reinforcements and internal structure.
8. A significant reduces of the crew number, which is intended to operate the rig.
9. The interior or main salon has no central mast, which penetrates the interior, which brings greater inner space.
Heliport on 57m sailing yacht Green Jet project and 45m SY180
10. Option of applying 1, 2 or 5 masts, that physically acting one to another, simplicity and ease of management of the sails remain unchanged, regardless of the number and size of masts.
11. Less heeling, due to the geometry of the sail and the longitudinal center of gravity of the sail, which is shifted more to the center.
12. Requires less sailing area for about the same performance.
Green Jet Yacht Project - helipad
13. There is no need to motor exactly into the wind while sail is hoisted.
14. A new perspective of rig structure, which acts as a sculpture on the water or airplane wing on the sea surface, thereby ensuring new and completely different visual impression and spectacle.
57m superyacht Green Jet project by night
15. The possibility of applying the system on any kind sail vessel, including the possibility of changing the existing rig with Aero sail system.
16. Forestay is not structural, it is detachable, forward area of the vessel can be finally used for safe landing of helicopter.
57m superyacht Green Jet project - Exterior
The specific Aero sail geometry is really perfect for the luxury yacht charter world and super sail yachts sector, basically for any type of sail yacht up from 5m to 100m hull, with 3-5 masts and for mono hulls, catamarans or trimarans. Fully automation of the sails is finally possible, even via I-phone if necessary.
Aero sail project is done solely with Slovenian knowledge and experts, and it was done in less than a year time. The first reaction to this carbon sea sculpture in the nautical world is amazing. As the project is finally feasible the next step is also to install the concept to as many charter yachts as well as big super yachts as possible. Therefore Sifrer is also searching for shipyards worldwide and charter operators that would be interested to have this easy sail concept installed. All the know-how is already developed and has been also proved to work as predicted since the day one.
