Audemars Piguet - Unveiling of l'Hydroptere.ch
This morning Alain Thebault, founder and pilot of the Hydroptere project and Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon, scientific manager of the project, accompanied by their Design Team, unveiled their new prototype, l'Hydroptere.ch, a 35ft catamaran at the Decision SA shipyard in Ecublens (Switzerland) which will soon be launched on Lake Geneva.
The programmes led by the Hydroptere team are scientific and technological projects, whose purpose is to revolutionize the world of sailing and further develop the innovative concept of flying boats. In 2009, l'Hydroptere, the 60ft trimaran, became the fastest sailing craft in the world when she bet two absolute sailing speed records i.e. 51.36 knots (95 km/h) over 500 meters and 50.17 knots (93 km/h) over one nautical mile. These are milestones in the history of sailing.
l'Hydroptere.ch follows the same principle. As a trial lab, she will help conceiving l'Hydroptere maxi whose purpose is to beat the most famous oceanic records and to follow Jules Verne's vision: Flying around the planet.
Three boats to attempt all major records: Pure speed, Atlantic crossing, Pacific crossing and circumnavigation.
In the presence of their major partners, the private banker Thierry Lombard, Associate Manager of Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie, Philippe Merk, CEO of the watchmaking manufacturer Audemars Piguet and of their official scientific advisor, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) represented by Patrick Aebischer, its president, Alain Thebault and Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon talked about the history and the foundation of the project, presented the new flying boat and unveiled the main innovations. "l'Hydroptere is an extraordinary human and technological adventure and l'Hydroptere.ch follows the same principle. As a lab boat designed to conceive l'Hydroptere maxi, this catamaran will help testing a new geometry and especially the configuration with two rudders.
The objective of this hybrid sailing boat: The versatility. Sailing nearly as fast as Archimedean traditional boats and achieving higher speeds in flight. First on Lake Geneva, then in the Mediterranean and abroad, l'Hydroptere.ch should give answers to precise questions related to flight dynamics and she will be an ambassador of the cross-frontier collaboration", said Alain Thebault during the conference.
As a result of a close collaboration between sailors, the Design Team, the EPFL, the shipyards Decision SA and B&B, the design offices HDS and MSE and the "Papes", these eight retired engineers who have been supported Alain Thebault and the project on a voluntary basis, l'Hydroptere.ch is a real technological jewel.
This is a 35ft sailing boat (10.85 meters long and with a span of 10.40 meters) with a central structural peak. She is equipped with rear tail units that can be raised, with a very accurate adjustment system of the foils and with planing hulls with removable steps.
As on the 60ft l'Hydroptere, l'Hydroptere.ch will be equipped with a highly sophisticated on-board measurement system.
Patrick Aebischer, supporter of l'Hydroptere.ch broke a bottle of Champagne at the end of the press conference and evoked the links that gathered the EPFL and the Hydroptere project from 2006: "The researches carried out at the EPFL have already contributed to the two records beaten by the team last year. l'Hydroptere.ch is a new step in this collaboration. This sailing boat is an opportunity for the committed researchers to validate the developments they do and to experiment in real conditions the innovative solutions to extend the existing limits in many fields of activities. This project is really motivating for the researchers as well as for the students who are committed in it".
All the Hydroptere project is supported by two companies i.e. Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie and the watchmaking manufactorer Audemars Piguet who share numerous values such as tradition, excellence and know-how.
Thierry Lombard, passionate by challenges, sailing and technology, has been supported the project since 2005. "After the achievements of l'Hydroptere in 2009, the launching of this hybrid prototype is really promising. This incredible adventure that I had the pleasure to join in 2005, is the proof that the most wonderful dreams can come true thanks to the passion of a team and the unconditional commitment of its partners. To invest in such a challenge is a way to be a step ahead, prove the ability to innovate and show everybody our pioneer spirit", did he say before l'Hydroptere.ch.
For Philippe Merk, "this new ambitious prototype has also the same pioneer spirit as Audemars Piguet, which since 1875 has always extended the limits of its art through its quest for technological innovations, daring and excellence. This is not only the work of an enthusiastic, determined and experimented team that we appreciate with this partnership, but also the research and the implementation of innovative and revolutionary solutions. These are values that we share". The team of l'Hydroptere.ch is going to start the static trials and calibrations of the platform before focusing on the sailing boat's fittings.
Happy and moved to see the result of three years of studies, design and building, impatient to see the first achievements but aware of the fine-tuning to make on such a prototype, Alain Thebault and his crew will sail on Lake Geneva in October.
"This christening is a very important day for the team and for myself. I am proud and moved. l'Hydroptere.ch is the result of years of studies and sailing sessions on l'Hydroptere but also of the work and the commitment of an extraordinary team. After a few weeks of adjustments and finish-works, we will be able to fly over Lake Geneva", concludes Alain Thebault.
Hydroptere
The Hydroptere project was born in the 1980's under the double impulse of eric Tabarly and Alain Thebault, with the help of scientists and sailors. Between 1987 and 1992, the dream came true. Supported and assisted by eric Tabarly, Alain Thebault fine-tuned different models and designed a concept of flying boat. l'Hydroptere was launched in 1994. Her first flight was a real success. Many years of studies and improvements followed, where Alain Thebault tried to combine cultures and competences. Broken in 2005 by tropical storm « Delta » on the Isle of Lanzarote, l'Hydroptere managed to recover thanks to the help of Thierry Lombard. The continuous support of the private bankers Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie brings a new dimension to the adventure: Two new boats are being studied, one lab-platform, l'Hydroptere.ch, which will contribute to the development of l'Hydroptere maxi, a boat dedicated to oceanic records and a circumnavigation in about 40 days.
From 2005, the achievements are numerous: On 2nd February 2005, l'Hydroptere crossed the Channel faster than Bleriot did by plane; on 4th April 2007, she beat two world speed records. But it is on 4th September 2009 that she definitely entered the sailing history as she exceeded the legendary 50 knot sailing speed barrier - a bit equivalent to the aeronautical sound barrier - and sailed at 51.36 knots over 500 meters with a top speed at 55.5 knots (103 km/h) in the Hyeres harbour (France). When she exceeded the wind barrier, l'Hydroptere became the fastest sailing craft on the planet.
The coming launching of l'Hydroptere.ch in autumn 2010 represents a new milestone in the project's story. Now heading to the open sea, the Hydroptere Team is focused on the versatility of the concept and prepares the arrival of flying boats in the offshore sailing world.
Website: www.hydroptere.com
Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie
The technological adventure of l'Hydroptere and its record-breaking exploits have been made possible by the support pledged since 2005 by Thierry Lombard, Managing Partner of the firm of private bankers Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie, whose foundation year - 1796 - is displayed on the craft's mainsail. Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie is a family business of private bankers founded in 1796. As such, its values of responsibility, long-term commitment, loyalty and independence guarantee the quality of the services it offers its private and institutional clients. With over 1,900 employees, the firm is present in the major international financial centres and has a network of more than 20 offices in the world.
The group, which has extensive experience in international wealth management, has become a leader in the alternative investment sector. It offers its private and institutional clients wide-ranging advice on wealth management, financial products and specialised services. Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie is run by eight Managing Partners, some of whom represent the seventh generation of bankers at the head of the firm.
Website: www.lombardodier.com
Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet is the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families (Audemars and Piguet). Since 1875, the company has written some of the finest chapters in the history of haute horlogerie, including a number of world firsts. In the Vallee de Joux, at the heart of the Swiss Jura, numerous masterpieces are created in limited series embodying a remarkable degree of horological perfection, including daring sporty models, classic and traditional timepieces, splendid ladies' jewellery-watches, as well as one-of-a-kind creations.
The world of sailing is one with which Audemars Piguet is well acquainted. As early as 1985, the Manufacture partnered Pierre Fehlmann, winner of the Whitbread Trophy. In 2000, it first discovered the America's Cup with Be hAPpy, before being part of the magnificent Swiss victories in the 31st and 32nd America's Cup. Active since 2007 on the circuit of Lake Leman races and regattas designed for Decision 35 sailboats, the brand is teamed with Ladycat, winner of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud 2010.
Website: www.audemarspiguet.com
L'EPFL, an engineering school founded in Lausanne in 1853
Since 2006, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has been the "Official Scientific Adviser" of l'Hydroptere. The EPFL makes its calculation power, experimental resources and the talents of its leading researchers and students available to the project. The studies conducted jointly by the EPFL and the Hydroptere Design Team cover three main areas: materials and structures, aero-hydrodynamic behaviour and computer vision systems.
Websites: http://hydroptere.epfl.ch and www.epfl.ch
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