The finalists for the ShowBoat Design Awards have been revealed and Ocean Yacht Systems (OYS) were pleased that the 66.9m sailing yacht Hetairos fitted with their retractable hydraulic propulsion system has been nominated as a finalist for the Design and Technology Award.
Sailing yacht Hetairos (ex project Panamax) Photo credit: Nicklas Storbjörk
Being a designer and manufacturer of thrusters, rigging and hydraulics OYS have supplied to many award winning Superyachts over the years including the 50m superyacht Zefira, the 75m megayacht M5 (ex Mirabella V) and the 52m luxury yacht Nazenin V. Awards primarily are for the designers, naval architects or the yards themselves, it is therefore a rare occasion that OYS actually reaches a final specifically for the equipment they have supplied.
OYS have supplied 2 x 460hp hydraulic swing down retractable primary drives for the superyacht Hetairos, the first of their kind in the world. Combined they generate over 14knts under power and provide a bollard pull in excess of 10tonnes. The units themselves rotate 360 degrees and are positioned either side of the centreline just aft of the keel, providing incredible manoeuvrability.
Sailing yacht Zefira At Anchor
Hetairos is built for performance, whether under sail or power, and therefore these hydraulic powered units fully retract into the hull within seconds when not in use, leaving a completely flawless hull as per the designs of Gerard Dykstra & Partners in association with Reichel Pugh Yacht Design.
Baltic Yachts, the builders of the luxury yacht Hetairos were so delighted with the performance, reliability and efficiency of the retractable propulsion system, that they nominated the system for this prestigious award. Hetairos was designed to push boundaries, and the propulsion system was no exception.
52m luxury yacht Nazenin V by RMK Marine
“In practical terms a Captain is not going to want to heave to or stop in order to start or stop motoring,” says Ian Crowden, OYS Director of Thrusters and Hydraulics. “As you can imagine this always brings with it the challenge of ensuring the complete system can withstand significant loads at all points of the raise and lower cycle. The units are designed to raise and lower at any speed up to a maximum of 15 knots, at which point we would prefer the sheets to be eased before any buttons are pushed!“
Antares III Superyacht
Other finalists in the awards equipped by OYS are:
– the Antares III yacht, a 30m composite sloop from Yachting Development equipped with a superlight vertical retracting bow thruster and swing retracting stern thruster.
– the 56m superyacht Fidelis by Perini Navi with OYS rigging and hydraulic control cylinders.
– the 67m sailing yacht Vertigo by Alloy yachts built with custom OYS carbon fibre vang cylinder.
The ShowBoat Design Awards ceremony takes place at the Monaco Opera House on 22nd June.
