There’s bench seating space forward of the two-seat helm position, which is nicely protected by an angular wraparound windshield and a substantial buttress-supported hardtop that not only shades two-thirds of the open deck area, but also will be co*pletely covered in photovoltaic cells.
The back half of the cockpit is fully in the shade and provides booth-dining with flanking sofas and table, a stern sunpad-sofa and bathing platform. Beneath the foredeck there will be berthing for two and a head-shower co*partment.
The Open’s zero-emissions drivetrain will be similar to the Icon’s. There will be a 400kWh bank of BMW i3 batteries and twin 100kW Torqeedo Deep Blue electric motors. It should be capable of a 50nm range at a 25-knot fast cruise.
And like The Icon, The Open is likely to start flying at around 17-18 knots from lift generated by a T-foil at the bow and a twin-strut horizontal foil aft that will incorporate forward-facing counter-rotating props.
The set-up is said to save 80% of the energy required to run a conventional co*parable-size planing model.
The biggest benefit of a hydrofoil boat is the smoothness. Those foils run beneath the surface, while the hull should fly above any waves. And the fact that it is also an electric boat means it does so softly in terms of both vibration and noise. The maximum draft should be 1.95m (6ft 5in) and the air draft is claimed to 3.5m (11ft 6in).
Tyde may well be a new co*pany, having only started in 2021, but it certainly has plenty of experience on which to draw. Its founders are no stranger to ‘sustainable mobility’.
Managing director Dr Christoph Ballin’s previous entrepreneurial ventures include electric outboard manufacturer Torqeedo and Sea.AI, which specialises in collision-avoidance technology for the marine environment. And his business partner, Tobias Hoffritz, was formerly BMW’s innovation director.
Tyde tells us it is almost ready to take Open orders and expects its first deliveries of production boats to co*mence in autumn 2024.
This article Tyde Open first look: World’s largest foiling motor yacht to launch in 2024 appeared first on Motor Boat & Yachting.
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