Grand Soleil Blue Sets Sail
Naval architect Matteo Polli collaborated with Nauta Design on the Grand Soleil Blue’s exterior, interior, and general arrangements.
Courtesy Grand Soleil
Grand Soleil Yachts hosted the world premiere of the Grand Soleil Blue at boot Düsseldorf, which opened on January 18.
The 33-footer with accommodations for four people is described as “a milestone in eco-friendly yacht building,” embodying the commitment that Grand Soleil Yachts and Cantiere del Pardo have to sustainability and respect for the marine environment.
“The sea is our passion and our home,” Gigi Servidati, Cantiere del Pardo chairman, stated in a press release. “The GS Blue demonstrates how design, performance and sustainability can harmoniously coexist, creating a boat designed for future generations”
Matteo Polli worked with the yard on naval architecture. Nauta Design handled exterior and interior design, and the general arrangements plan. The yard also brought in sustainable materials firms such as NL Comp.
Cockpit layout aboard the Grand Soleil Blue
Courtesy Grand Soleil
At the end of its life cycle, the boat is entirely recyclable, with every component selected to ensure reusability. For construction, the yard used thermoplastic resin instead of thermosetting resins, which can be impossible to recycle. Thermoplastic resin allows for easier separation of the resin and glass or carbon fibers for reuse or eco-responsible disposal.
The Grand Soleil Blue is also designed for disassembly, allowing easy separation of boat accessories and components in a way that’s similar to end-of-life practices in the automotive industry.
Companionway access and galley layout aboard the Grand Soleil Blue
Courtesy Grand Soleil
Power is by way of an 8 kW, 48-volt LiFePO4 battery bank from ePropulsion. It can be recharged in a little more than seven hours. Storage capacity can be doubled without increasing charging time, as the charger compensates. The electric motor is 6 kW with a direct pod drive transmission from ePropulsion. This setup allows for silence on board, a plug-and-play installation, and zero-emission navigation.
Solar panels help to recharge the battery bank. With the standard battery pack, the GS Blue can reportedly cruise for 30 nautical miles at approximately 5 knots, translating to six hours of continuous motor operation or 12 hours with the doubled battery pack. The integrated photovoltaic system, made by Solbian with around 340 watts of power, is incorporated into the deckhouse with a nonslip finish.
Salon layout aboard the Grand Soleil Blue
Courtesy Grand Soleil
The Grand Soleil Blue also has thermoplastic sails. Developed by OneSails, the 4T Forte sails have membranes and an assembly process that replace traditional glues, resins and solvents with a hot-melt process. The base polymer is fully recyclable.
Does the Grand Soleil Blue have hydrogeneration? Yes, it does. While sailing, the ePropulsion pod drive motor recharges the boat’s batteries through the flow of water generated by the propeller’s movement. This system ensures a minimum recharge of 250 watts, at a speed of about 6 knots.
How did Grand Soleil Yachts finance this project? In part, as part of the PR-ERDF 2021/2027 program, Action 1.1.1, call for experimental research and development projects.
Where to learn more: check out grandsoleil.net
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