Press release
Vripack’s V20 wins UIM green environmental award
Vripack is delighted to let you know that the V20 Solar Racer has received a 2013 green environmental
award special mention from the international motorboat federation UIM. The trophy was presented last
Saturday the 1st of March in the exclusive Salle des Etoiles in Monaco.
The UIM Executive committee selected the V20 Solar Racer for a ‘Special mention for Greening the
Sport’. Bart Bouwhuis and Marnix Hoekstra, directors of Vripack, attended the Awards Giving ceremony
and are very proud of this outstanding achievement.
Bart Bouwhuis and Marnix Hoekstra explain; “Solar energy is one of the most important essentials in the
puzzle towards a sustainable economy. The V20 Solar Racer is there to promote the ultimate synergy of
nature, motion and innovation within the motor racing sport. The constant focus on expertise from the
fields of innovation and scientific developments is important to Vripack in order to stay focused within the
delivery of high quality design, architecture and engineering. The V20 is an excellent way to bring our
knowledge of Solar Racing to the World in our typical Holistic approach as we don’t simply design boats
we engineer fantasies.”
The V20 is the Worlds first One Design Solar Racer which is solely driven by the energy created from the
sun. The V20 is a so called Hydro Foiling WIG vessel. The adjustable hydro foils carry her hull out of the
water and the NACA shape of the deck creates a Wing in Ground (WIG) effect creating additional lift. The
goal for all this is to reduce the natural resistances to a minimum allowing the Solar Power to be used for
pure speed followed by pleasure and an ear to ear smile.
The V20 is a light weight composite vessel with solar cells which also has the possibility to stall the sun
energy in her Lithium Ion batteries or convert this energy directly to the propeller. A sophisticated
battery management system assists the pilot to determine what the ideal speed is. With sufficient energy
yield it is possible to cruise 100% on the sun and even recharge the battery at the same time. The boat
is driven by an electro motor which powers the propeller allowing the V20 to fly up to a speed around the
30 km p/h.
In a World Wide Class several V20s will be challenging each other and the elements in an International
race circuit. The boats in the V20 class are all identical except for a few strategic elements. The V20 solar
boat will add a new exciting element, the V20 Class, to the 5th edition of the Dutch DONG Energy Solar
Challenge, between 28th June and 5th July 2014. Then the Solar 1 Monte Carlo Cup, a result of a
partnership between Monaco based Solar 1 Races, The Monaco Yacht Club and Vripack, will follow which
takes place on the Mediterranean waters in the Monaco bay between 10th and 13th July 2014.
About Vripack®
Established in 1961, Vripack is a leading full service design, naval architecture and engineering studio
with over 7000 projects under their belt. Vripack focuses on realizing better ships in less time for private
customers and yards world-wide. At Vripack we believe that a good design should not meet all
requirements, it should surpass them in order to create a boat that goes beyond dreams. We don’t just
design yachts, we Engineer Fantasies.
For more information, please contact Nienke Tromp ([email protected]) at +31 (0)515 436600 or
visit www.vripack.com.