 |
|
The inaugural Royal Thames Mansura Trophy was recently awarded to CNB for ecological innovation and practicability in their Lagoon 420 hybrid-powered catamaran design.
The trophy was presented to M. Loic Lagrange by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during a ceremony at London’s Royal Thames Yacht Club.
The inspiration for this competition was fueled by ‘Mansura’, a 1912 cabin-cruiser driven by a petrol-electric hybrid propulsion system developed by her owner and electrical engineer, Jack Delmar-Morgan, who is also a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. A Marine Writer, Kevin Desmond, had researched the history of ‘Mansura’ and persuaded Delmar-Morgan’s grandson, Julian, and David Barratt to commission a trophy which acknowledges hybrid boat propulsion technologies.
With recognition from the Royal Yachting Association and launch support generously provided by The Green Blue, around fifty projects were identified world-wide that addressed the premise of the award. Upwards of about 25 hybrid designs were closely followed in Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and USA. As the competition gathered momentum and international recognition the list was narrowed down to a final list of five contestants from four nations. David Arnold, Chairman of the judging panel commented: “We were faced with a number of innovative and frankly ingenious original designs or retro-conversions but it was the Lagoon 420 motor-sailing catamaran which had the commercial advantage. Its use of one engine, one diesel generator and a bank of batteries which re-charge via proprellers turned by the boat’s speed whilst under sail is simple and effective. The fact that Constrution Navale de Bordeaux has built over sixty Lagoon 420’s since 2003, hald of which have made trans-Atlantic delivery trips, further underlines the potential.”
Runner-up was the Sydney Harbour-based Sydney Solar Sailor passenger ferry, with rigid photovoltaic sails supplying its electric motors, with back-up LPG generator.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh takes a keen personal interest in innovative marine design and before the presentation, met finalists and diplomats from the competing nations, as well as representatives from the maritime world and members of the sponsoring Royal Thames Yacht Club, whose initiative is already gaining recognition and competitors for its 2008 competition. Constrution Navale de Bordeaux’s Loic Lagrange commented: “We are obviously very pleased and honoured to have our ecological engineering solutions recognised by the Mansura Trophy competition. We continue to explore hybrid power for our designs and winning this Trophy, in the face of so much international competition, is a very sweet success, especially as the trophy plinth is made from timber recovered from HMS Victory!”
|
