DAMIEN SEGUIN – CLASS 40
“It’s a dream come true. It feels good to see the boat in the water and it will be a weird feeling to leave the port in ‘silence’!”
After having used a 4,2 meter keel boat throughout 2012, Damien Seguin decided to switch to a 40 ft boat. The skipper will be attending the next “Transat Jacques Vabre” race on board of a new generation 40 ft sailboat: The Akilaria RC3. This mono-hull, designed by the architect Marc Lombard, was built by Chantier Haco and put into water in July 2013. This boat has been customized by Damien who added his own personal touch to the deck, mast and also to the sails which he has designed himself.
“I toyed with the idea of installing an electric propulsion system on the boat in order not to produce any CO2 emissions. Not a single liter of fuel will be carried on board. Just an electric motor relying on batteries, as well as a hydro-generator and electric panels.”
In order to make the construction of this boat possible, Damien created a partners’ club, mostly composed of people from Nantes (France). These companies chose to get together to support the project for a variety of reasons. Some of them are trying encourage people with disabilities to realize their dreams and others are in favor of ethical solutions. These partners have committed to the project for two years and Damien is focusing on the “Route du Rhum 2014” race. His only goal now: victory.
For more information about Damien and his project visit www.damienseguin.fr
TECHNOLOGY USED IN DAMIEN SEGUIN’S CLASS40
- Boat type: Akilaria RC3
- Racing name: ERDF – Des Pieds et des Mains
- Owner: Damien Seguin
- Country: France
- Architect: Marc Lombard
- Boatyard: Chantier Haco
- Launching date: July 2013
- Hull materials: Fibre glass – epoxy
- Length: 12.18m
- Beam: 4.5m
- Weight: 4500kg
- Draft: 3m
- Mast height: 19m
- Keel/rudders: fixed/lifting
- Upwind sail area: 115m²
- Downwind sail area: 300m²
- Electric motor system: Oceanvolt SD15
- Electric motor system nominal power: 15kW
- Electric motor system voltage: 48 V
- Electric motor system weight: 50 kg
- Batteries: 8 x Valence U27-12XP Lithium Batteries
- Battery capacity: 14 kWh
- Battery weight: 156 kg
