Simply Abu Dhabi XXXVI

1 7 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I One of the few yachts of her kind available for charter, guests find the soundless experience to be otherworldly, says Captain Mike French: “When cruising at nine knots in flat shallow waters it’s an experience second to none. The boat soundlessly glides above the surface and there’s minimal wake, too. Guests are always astounded at how quiet it is.” Propelled by a hybrid of both diesel-mechanical and diesel- electrical, her power sources can be used simultaneously or independently. When in electric cruise mode her fuel consumption reduces to an impressive 45 litres per hour while cruising at speeds of up to nine knots, with a noise level of around 46 decibels; that’s the sound equivalent of softly falling rain. Chartering at a rate of $240,000 per week in the winter and $295,000 per week in the summer, she is well suited to areas such as the Bahamas and the Tobago Cays where the waters are flat and clear, and Mediterranean hot spots, such as the Amalfi Coast. The sister ship to Home, Project Electra is currently under construction at Heesen, and is scheduled for delivery in April 2020. But if circa US$55 million is slightly out of budget, perhaps Silent-Yachts’ solar-electric powered oceangoing catamaran Silent 55 for a cool US$1.5 million is more the ticket. With both propulsion and household powered by the sun (30 high-efficiency solar panels rated for approximately 10 kilowatt-peak) and with electric propulsion available when required, the 56-foot catamaran has unlimited range, no noise or fumes, minimal vibration and is virtually maintenance-free. Its solar charge regulators and lithium batteries enable it to cruise all night non-stop, and (gaining where Thunberg lost out) the interior is the height of luxury. The need for water vessels to be lower carbon or carbon neutral is at its highest point in history, but what the most pioneering eco yachts today offer is smooth and serene cruising where both the environment and owner’s enjoyment come first.