A mega-catamaran for luxury charter

Wing sail and propulsion

This is certainly the first eye-striking element when observing Exchange’s renders: the four wing sails that support the main propulsion system. Being totally independent one from the other, they can be separately lifted, furled, or adjusted thanks to a totally automated mechanism. This constantly guarantees perfect efficiency. At anchor, while docked, or whenever not needed wing sails disappear into their cases in the superstructure, hidden from sight and reducing visual impact. Wing sails do provide additional propulsion, which significantly reduces fuel consumption and, therefore, emissions, which methanol as main fuel already keeps very low. The boat’s internal combustion engines are actually powered by liquid methanol, though matched with a battery-powered electric engine. Its batteries also power hotel services and auxiliary engines, to allow zero-emission sailing, and can be recharged by fuel-cell modules which use methanol’s hydrogen. The plant, as it is, proves extremely flexible, and allows long-distance low-emission sailing, as well as coastal, zero-emission sailing.

Flexibility

Exchange’s objectives include the designers’ desire to provide charter customers some space he could adapt to his wishes. The boat’s customization mainly identifies with an aft area on the upper fly deck, where a changeable module can be set to reflect the customer’s choices, with different layouts and functions: gym, SPA, lab, and so on. When booking, the customer will be given the chance to choose the best layout-module for his necessities, which he will find onboard right before departure. This customizable space is actually enclosed within a changeable frame, inside a 40-foot container. Choosing a container improves practicality, while simplifying overall handling: the container itself, with the layout options the customer has chosen, will be shipped to the owner’s departure

Four wing sails can be installed on Exchange, four sails that support the main propulsion system, allow a considerable reduction of fuel consumption and, therefore, emissions. Each wing sail is is 2,4 metres long and 2,6 wide, for a 43-square-metre total surface. It produces 21kw at 10knots, in a 20knot real crosswind.

Propulsion, on the whole, proves extremely flexible, and allows long low-emission sailing (sails with engine) or coastal, zero emission sailing (sails with fuel cells). Below, a diagram of Exchange’s propulsion system.