Our good friends from Northern Light Composites have just launched the world’s first recyclable production boat at The Ocean Race Grand Finale in Genoa. Following the great success of award-winning ecoracer25, the ecoracer30 OD takes everything a step further. The first production boat to utilise Northern Light Composites’ proprietary rComposite technology is a 9-meter sailing boat, designed by acclaimed yacht designer Matteo Polli who has an impressive track record in designing ORC championship-winning yachts.
Over the last 4 years, Northern Light Composites has refined their rComposite technology and proven with several projects that there is indeed a readily available alternative for more sustainable performance boats with a viable end-of-life solution. While it is currently estimated that about 95% of fibreglass-boats simply end up abandoned at the end of their lifecycle, the ecoracer30 is living proof that the marine industry doesn’t have to continue on this same old path. With a composite construction that makes use of renewable and recycled materials to begin with and allows the boat to be recycled and materials to be reclaimed at the end of its life, this is a significant departure from the status-quo. At Bcomp we are more than excited to be contributing to this solution with our ampliTex™ high-performance natural fibre reinforcement fabrics and our patented powerRibs™ technology.
To maximise the sustainable impact of their composite solution, Northern Light Composites is sharing their expertise with interested shipyards and boat builders by licensing the rComposite technology. Exemplary for this approach, the ecoracer30 has been built in a collaborative effort with the help of Magnani Yachts who took care of the composite manufacturing while the boat was eventually assembled in Genova with technical support from well-known Sangiorgio Marine. Magnani Yachts is also the first shipyard to hold the rComposite license and we can’t wait to see will be coming from them in the future.
The ecoracer30 will very soon be in good company as the 2nd boat is currently under construction and has already been sold. We should also be seeing much more of the ecoracer30’s beauty and performance in the coming years since Norther Light Composites are working actively to launch the Ecoracer Sailing Series. With a strong focus on sustainability this new one design class will see exciting regattas taking place in Mediterranean countries known for their rich sailing heritage while promoting state-of-the-art technologies and increased sustainability in the sailing world.
We are thrilled for Northern Light Composites to be taking this big step forward and can’t wait to see our materials as an integral part of a new sailing series with sustainability at its heart!
Learn more:
www.sail-world.com/news/263998/Introducing-the-first-recyclable-production-boat
www.northernlightcomposites.com
All images © Bcomp / Flurin Efinger
