Selar Captain Arctic: New Expedition Superyacht

Boom in sails and expeditions

Autumn 2024 has been rich in interesting news. We recently reported on the largest sailing catamaran on the planet, which is due to be launched in the foreseeable future. Before that, the KM Yachtbuilders shipyard delighted fans of expedition boats 23-meter Amundsen – the second case of the Pelagic 77 series.

One of the most interesting pieces of news was the news about launch of TOWT Anemos operation, which became the first sailing commercial trading vessel in many years. In light of this news, the appearance of another sailing expedition superyacht does not seem out of the ordinary.

Captain Arctic. Source: selar.cc

However, Selar managed to surprise and showed the public the first renderings of its 70-meter yacht with unusual sails. The yacht received the inspiring name Captain Arctic. 

The new model is being developed by architects and designers from the French company Selar in collaboration with the shipyard CNOI (Chantier Naval de l'Ocean Indien). Right now, the hull of the new yacht is already being built in Mauritius. According to the plan, Captain Arctic should be launched in 2026.

Technical features of Captain Arctic

Just one look at the renderings makes it clear that Captain Arctic is not just a yacht for millionaires. From the side, "Cap" looks more like a full-fledged scientific station. Some interesting details about the yacht have already been announced on the official website, let's study them in more detail.

Rigid solar sails

The so-called “solid sails” are described by Selar as “a Swiss Army knife that can be removed when needed.” Judging from the images, the sails on the Captain Arctic will be a cross between a DynaRig and a Windsail, with the exception of the use of aluminum.

Source: selar.cc

Solar panels will be built into the sides of the sails, with a total area of about 2,000 m2. There will be as many as five masts on the "Cap". The height of the "rigid sails" will be 35 meters.

Electric motor

The main idea of most such projects is to minimize the use of engines. Captain Arctic is no exception - according to Selar, the yacht will move due to the wind force for up to 90% of time. This statement emphasizes the environmental focus of the project, but its implementation will depend on real operating conditions and weather factors.

According to Selar representatives, the engines on board the Cap are environmentally friendly and do not harm the environment. Captain Arctic will be driven by two electric motors, which can also operate in energy recovery mode.

Autonomous production of drinking water and heating system

Captain Arctic will be able to independently produce drinking water by purifying and desalinating seawater. No further details are disclosed, we are waiting for further announcements and news.

View from the stern. Source: selar.cc

Selar pays special attention to heating. As correctly noted on the official website, heating is critically important in polar regions. Captain Arctic is set in opposition to other modern vessels: instead of energy-intensive boilers, pellet boilers will be used on board, using fuel from recycled wood waste.

Sustainability at the forefront

Selar is guided by modern tendencies and trends, so in this text you can often come across the word "environmental friendliness" and its derivatives. The company's goal is to create an autonomous vessel for expeditions and travels, the impact of which on the environment would be minimal. 

From the official website: “Several specialized systems on board guarantee the achievement of [the goal of reducing waste emissions into the sea]: an organic reactor for processing food waste and products, a purification tank that converts black and gray water into technical and drinking liquid.” 

The concept of traveling across ice expanses

There are 19 cabins for 36 guests and 24 crew members. According to a press release on the website, Captain Arctic will undertake Arctic excursions in a “free-roam” mode, meaning the crew will tailor the voyage to the current weather conditions. 

Conclusions and a few thoughts about Captain Arctic

As is the case with Echo Yachts and its ASC57, Captain Arctic looks pretty convincing. Our regular readers know that in most cases concepts remain concepts, but Captain Arctic and ASC57 are currently under construction. This is a good trend in the superyacht world.

Cabin interior. Source: selar.cc

Captain Arctic also has something else going for it. Selar's CEO and the driving force behind the project is Sophie Galvanion. At 26, she became the youngest woman in history to command a polar expedition vessel. In addition to Sophie, the project is led by French entrepreneurs Julia Bijaoui and Quentin Vache. Most modern concepts and projects don't often have such big names behind them.

However, it is worth mentioning the omnipresent eco-friendliness. Even if Captain Arctic is as eco-friendly as Selar claims, it is not a given that the production of a 70-meter, five-masted behemoth will be. In addition, solar panels are well known for being a highly un-ecological process to recycle. What will happen to these panels if they break down mid-voyage?

However, these are nuances. Captain Arctic is an ambitious project that promises to set new standards in the field of expedition yachts. We are looking forward to updates and new details about Captain Arctic.

New video on the Interparus channel🎥

A big review for a big catamaran – meet Thira 80, the largest catamaran from Fountaine Pajot! Sasha Goron will tell you in detail about all the features of the shipyard's new product and what makes Thira so good. Enjoy watching❤️

Don't forget to rate the material. You can find other interesting articles at the links below or in the "News" section.

16.11.2024