Phil Sharp Gets His IMOCA

[furler49]

A lot of us here have followed Phil through his many years of Class40 sailing, and his multiple attempts to put together a competitive Vendee Globe campaign.

He's only gone and bloody done it - genuinely so excited for him. A huge boost for non-french, offshore., shorthanded racing (yes he's based in La Rochelle, but he's English).

Take a look here.

World first hydrogen IMOCA yacht construction announced by Phil Sharp and OceansLab - OceansLab

Phil Sharp, one of Britain’s most competitive and successful ocean racers, has today announced the build of a hydrogen IMOCA ahead of the 2024 Vendée Globe.

oceanslab.world

@Editor please shout about this loudly

 

[JonRowe]

I was going to post this same thing, its great!

 

[wildbirdtoo]

That's exciting! There is going to be quite some competition for the places available on the Vendee Globe...

 

[TheDragon]

I tried visiting the Oceanslab website and Genevos too, but no obvious answer to this question. Where does the hydrogen come from? Is it generated on board via solar-generated electricity, or do you have a big tank of it somewhere on board, with the hydrogen generated onshore before departure?

 

[JonRowe]

I tried visiting the Oceanslab website and Genevos too, but no obvious answer to this question. Where does the hydrogen come from? Is it generated on board via solar-generated electricity, or do you have a big tank of it somewhere on board, with the hydrogen generated onshore before departure?

The website for their fuel cells shows tanks, admitedly on a motor boat

 

[LeoV]

Tip & Shaft with some more info;

N°203 🚀 Phil Sharp: "A great concept for the Vendée Globe" + A wind of change for the Figaro Beneteau Class

 

[yl75]

I'm not too hot on the hydrogen thing (to say the least), as it has an appalling overall energy efficiency starting with "green" electricity, and most of it is produced out of hydrocarbons these days anyway, but great for him !
(and it looks like a certain amount of green washing is mandatory for any sailing team these days anyway)
I wonder if Sam Goodchild also has a VG ptogram in his radar.

 

[Jambalaya]

Likewise. So happy for him and looking forward to see where he can take the programme

 

[furler49]

I'm not too hot on the hydrogen thing (to say the least), as it has an appalling overall energy efficiency starting with "green" electricity, and most of it is produced out of hydrocarbons these days anyway, but great for him !
(and it looks like a certain amount of green washing is mandatory for any sailing team these days anyway)
I wonder if Sam Goodchild also has a VG ptogram in his radar.

Sam’s VG campaign will soon be announced officially. It’s happening and with the continued backing of Leyton

 

[JonRowe]

Sam’s VG campaign will soon be announced officially. It’s happening and with the continued backing of Leyton

Yep they semi announced it talking about The Ocean Race as a good training race for Sam to start to get to know Imocas

 

[oioi]

Great news for both Phil and Sam. Pleased to hear we've got some (ex pat) brits to cheer on.

Anybody know if Sam has a new boat in build? Starting to get late for this cycle.

 

[furler49]

Great news for both Phil and Sam. Pleased to hear we've got some (ex pat) brits to cheer on.

Anybody know if Sam has a new boat in build? Starting to get late for this cycle.

Not a new build, I thinks he’s got LinkedOut1… or Seb Simon’s Juan K, the former Arkea Paprec

 

[Roleur]

I'm not too hot on the hydrogen thing (to say the least), as it has an appalling overall energy efficiency starting with "green" electricity, and most of it is produced out of hydrocarbons these days anyway, but great for him !
(and it looks like a certain amount of green washing is mandatory for any sailing team these days anyway)
I wonder if Sam Goodchild also has a VG ptogram in his radar.

He says decarbonize marine, so the hydrogen must not be coming from the hydrocarbons, unless he literally thinks the whole world is stupid.

Anyone know where the hydrogren does come from? Solar powered electrolysis? It's hard to transport, though, no?

 

[JonRowe]

I tried visiting the Oceanslab website and Genevos too, but no obvious answer to this question. Where does the hydrogen come from? Is it generated on board via solar-generated electricity, or do you have a big tank of it somewhere on board, with the hydrogen generated onshore before departure?

The Tip and Shaft article mentioned tanks too by the way, also that it'll be heavier than the diesel equivalent:

How does the hydrogen fuel cell technology compare in terms of weight versus diesel engine and generator ?
The fuel cell technology is lighter than a diesel generator about 1/2 the weight... and with nearly twice the efficiency. However H2 fuel storage is heaver per kW hour than diesel - around 2.5-3 times heavier - because the tanks that have hold hydrogen under high pressure (350 bar) So we end up with an overall system that is maybe 50% heavier than classic diesel system.

He says decarbonize marine, so the hydrogen must not be coming from the hydrocarbons, unless he literally thinks the whole world is stupid.

Anyone know where the hydrogren does come from? Solar powered electrolysis? It's hard to transport, though, no?

I don't think he's mentioned the source, but Hydrogen is transported by tankers same as diesel et al, so its more the point of delivery thats harder, can't just top up a jerry can and pour it into the boat's tanks...

 

[Potter]

He says decarbonize marine, so the hydrogen must not be coming from the hydrocarbons, unless he literally thinks the whole world is stupid.

Anyone know where the hydrogren does come from? Solar powered electrolysis? It's hard to transport, though, no?

I have heard plans for wind turbines to be used for hydrogen production, eyeballs adjust supplying enough for the grid. I assume through electrolysis. No idea if it is being done anywhere, but there was certainly talk of it in Scotland for supplying island ferries (that is another story).
We looked into Hydrogen and storage for an Arctic project. Storage is built and heavy, production is quite inefficient. However, if that is what he needs to do to get the boat from his sponsor the so be it.

 

[nogetwe]

Hydrogen is very inefficient to produce (like 40% energy loss from source to use), but could be used to store peaks, e.g. from wind power. These days windfarms sometimes are switched off in high winds at night, because there are no takers for the electricity.

 

[LeoV]

Solar panels that produce hydrogen exists, but not on the market yet.

 

[huey 2]

This new monohull designed by Manuard is currently under construction at Black Pepper Yachts, a specialist in the construction of high-performance boats. The build is utilising existing moulds that have been recycled and reworked.