British yard Spirit Yachts has delivered its 13.4 metre fully electric 44CR(e) sailing yacht named Avvento.
Commissioned by Vincent Argiro, a retired technology entrepreneur living in British Colombia, the yacht is the first fully electric yacht built by the yard.
Despite this, Avvento retains all the hallmarks of a Spirit sailing yacht, with low freeboards, long overhangs, flush decks and “the timeless beauty of wooden craftsmanship.”
This is combined with “signs of the sailing yachts of the future,” Spirit said, such as solar panels integrated into the mainsail and deck.
Additionally, a lightweight electric drive system powered by an electronically controlled pitch propeller will regenerate the batteries while sailing.
Speaking about the project, Spirit Yachts managing director Nigel Stuart said: "The original brief from the owner was for a yacht that would sail well in the light winds of British Columbia. The yacht also needed to deliver the lowest possible carbon footprint during its build and when operating, as well as having the flexibility to upgrade its systems when technology advances."
The Spirit 44CR(e) features manual winches and a carbon mast and boom while the large lazarette on the aft deck houses a tender with an electric motor.
The yacht’s eco agenda continues down below. All lighting will be LED and all cooking will be done on the yacht’s stove. Accommodation will be for a total of four guests across two cabins, the owner’s forward en suite and a second twin cabin at the starboard aft.
Speaking about his new yacht, Argiro said: "Avvento is meant to be a defining prototype of an energy self-sufficient and sustainably-built sailing vessel— a living laboratory and research platform for proving out all the technologies and practices that make eco-sailing attractive to many others."