Thanks to the URA, I had an opportunity to take a short cruise around Marina Bay on the Audi ultra, a 90′ Super Maxi class ultra-lightweight racing yacht. Besides the wonderful views of new Singapore that has blended with some of the old I got around the bay, I was also able to have a quick peek around the state-of-the-art all carbon-fibre marvel of modern engineering.
A cruise around Marina Bay on the Audi ultra provided a wonderful view of the former inner harbour - now part of a downtown freshwater reservoir around which the transformation of Singapore can be best appreciated.
The boom seen against the towering mast - the Audi ultra features a 40 metre high mast.
Another view of the mast.
All hands on deck to welcome a glamourous visitor.
At the helm of the yacht was Geoff Bauchop, who gave a run through of the yacht’s features which includes a 40 metre tall mast. Fully rigged, more than a monster 1000 square metres of sail can be raised. Another feature of the yacht is the canting keel holding lead ballast that weighs almost half of the 22 tonnes that the yacht displaces. At a touch of a button the keel can be moved to the windward to counteract the huge heeling moments induced by the large sails. A demonstration of this was given during the cruise by Geoff, heeling the yacht a few degrees off vertical. Geoff later revealed that the canting keel was also used to bring the yacht under the bridges over Marina Bay the lowest of which has a clearance of only 9 metres into Marina Bay. To allow this, the yacht was heeled over to an extreme angle using the keel to allow the yacht to be towed under the bridge (see youtube video below) – pretty amazing stuff!
Mr Geoff Bauchop of the Audi Ultra team at the helm.
Heeling over ...
... off the vertical - Geoff demonstrating how canting keel can be moved to counteract heeling moments on the yacht.
Looking forward.
I also had a chance to see what was below decks – where the carbon-fibre used in the construction of the hull was quite evident. Construction is mainly of carbon-epoxy sandwich – using high modulus carbon fibre which has been infused with epoxy resin and cured at high temperature on the extremely thin skins with a nomex honeycomb core that allows a rigid yet lightweight construction. The skins I was given to understand were only 2mm thick on the outboard surfaces and 1 mm on the inboard surfaces – hardly enough to resist any impacts with floating objects. Kevlar – the stuff of bullet proof vests and military helmets are used in strategic areas just to provide the impact resistance.
The view above decks seen from the opening of the companionway.
Under the glare of the tropical afternoon sun - the boom seen through a hatch from below decks.
The carbon-fibre epoxy hull features skins of 2 mm on the exterior surface and 1 mm on the interior separated by a nomex honeycomb core.
It is below decks where any illusions that sailing is a glamourous sport almost immediately evaporates, as the heat under the tropical sun-baked carbon-fibre deck quickly becomes apparent. Racing yachts are built with minimum weight in mind and air-conditioning machinery are not always considered essential. Sleeping accommodation is provided by hammock like hot berths that line the boat sides and the crew rests on the windward side – to help in offsetting heeling moments to the leeward side. Amidships, a navigation console is arranged – here onboard computers help with navigation and communications. What is also evident below is the powerful hydraulic rams below a clear perspex window at the bottom of the hull that moves the canting keel.
The navigation console below decks.
A window to the powerful hydraulic rams that control the canting keel.
The Audi ultra has been brought in and will be based at Singapore’s One° 15 Marina to promote the development of professional and big boat sailing and will help in the hands-on training and development of sailors and will be used to participate in races under the Singapore flag and crewed by a combination of Singaporeans and experienced International yachtsmen and women and is supported by the Singapore Sailing Federation. More information on the Audi ultra and the Audi ultra Racing Team can be found at the Audi ultra Racing Team’s website.
Sailing on the bay.
Sailing is being promoted as a sport in Singapore.
Marina Bay - formerly the inner roads is now being promoted as a sailing competition venue.
A last look at the Audi ultra.
Lol I was on the yacht the last weekend and had a chat with the captain. Told me that they were off to Japan or somewhere else after the Singapore stop.
To Hong Kong and then Vietnam for races before heading back to Singapore again in November.