V-Anchor-Arm

Vitters’ clean-deck policy led us to develop a very neat custom-built anchor arm system. When the anchor is not in use the whole anchoring system is stowed below deck. Before deploying the anchor, the V-Anchor-Arm is hydraulically hinged forward, well clear of the bow, thus avoiding any chance of it scuffing the topsides, with the anchor ready to be dropped. Dropping and weighing anchor operations are easily controlled, safely, by one crew member.

V-Drum

The sail drum is essentially a development of fishing net reel technology. Never specified for sails before, Vitters’ engineers did extensive testing on myriad sizes of furled sails and the calculated what forces may be applied without damaging cloth. Since Anatta, Vitters has installed this system on four more yachts, carefully implementing small refinements, based on hands-on experience. We call the current version V-Drum.

The V-Drum provides for easy sail changes with a limited number of crew. The sail drum is effectively a compact on-board sail storage device. It avoids the need for crew to drag heavy sail bags over the deck and thus teak and brightwork are not prone to damage. Quick sail changes during racing increase the overall performance of the yacht too, of course.

V-Furl

Vitters pioneered the first ever below-deck headsail drum and furler, for hands-off operation, on Anatta (ex. Aglaia). This system increases the performance of Vitters yachts, since sail changes can take place quickly and easily whilst reducing energy consumption of furlers, winches and feeders.

Over the years Vitters’ R&D team has done extensive testing and we have carefully implemented changes, drawing on hands-on experience, improving safety and the ease of handling sails significantly. The current versions are named V-Drum and V-Furl.

The Vitters in-deck furler, V-Furl, is based on the clamp used on oil rigs to clamp the drilling pipe. The really clever bit is found in the clamping system and the hook, which have been meticulously designed and developed to facilitate headsail handling.

One benefit of V-Furl over common storage drums, found on the market today, is that the tack of the sail will be securely attached to the furler fully-automatedly.

V-Pods

Retractable propulsion pods were once only seen on out-and-out performance sailing yachts.

Vitters took this technology further, with its rotatable, retracting V-Pod, specifically built for superyachts.

The innovative development contributes significantly to the performance of the superyacht while under sail. As well as this performance enhancement, the V-Pod eliminates the need for a stern thruster, while allowing for easy precision manoeuvring, into or out of tight spots, by joystick only.

V-Winches

Vitters developed custom high-load captive winches during the construction of the 85-metre (282ft) SY Aquijo,. The 40 tonne-plus loads on these winches created challenges, like nothing that independent winch suppliers had ever seen. So, together with a team of scientists from the Aviation and Airspace Development Laboratory, Vitters modelled the anticipated maximum static and dynamic loads. With this knowledge, it was determined precisely where to add material, and strength, for optimum efficiency.

Using the 40-tonne calculations as a bench mark also gave Vitters the opportunity to downscale the calculations and design and manufacture smaller winches for 12 – 18-tonne loads.

Vitters captive winches are remarkable for their strength, performance and low maintenance. Last but not least, servicing can be carried out, and maintenance advice given, by Vitters’ in-house team.

V-Solar – Project Zero

Project Zero will receive 100 square meters of hybrid solar panels, which use both electrical and thermal energy with an efficiency of 60 percent. The solar panels are integrated into the Bimini and deckhouses of the yacht. When Zero is at anchor and there is little wind, its sustainable energy production relies upon solar energy. In addition to energy from the sun, the hybrid solar panels also generate energy from heat. Liquid will run along the panels. It gets warm because the solar panels also get warm. The yacht not only has ‘electric batteries’ but also ’thermal batteries’. Splitting these two forms of energy will be groundbreaking.

V-Hydropower – Project Zero

Hydropower will used to generate energy on board Zero. The yacht will be equipped with water turbines. Two rotating azimuth pods can be used for propulsion, maneuvering and – when the vessel is moving under sail – energy regeneration. A hydrogenator converts the kinetic energy into electricity, which can charge a large part of the yacht’s energy requirements. It is a very efficient way to generate energy. Zero will sacrifice some speed – about 1 to 1.2 knots – but the amount of energy she generates is almost as much as a typical generator on a similar-sized yacht.

V-Battery bank – Project Zero

For project Zero, high-density lithium-ion and PCM salt batteries will store all energy on board. The battery bank has a capacity of approximately five megawatts. That is the battery equivalent of 88 Tesla cars!

V-Insulation – Project Zero

During the development of project Zero the most important credo is;  You don’t have to generate what you don’t need. One way to save energy is to properly insulate the hull and deck. Zero’s decks will be covered with teak. Below this is a layer of cork. This has a good insulating effect, which reduces energy expenditure. The construction of the superstructures on a yacht like Zero are  normally made of aluminium. For Zero, its superstructures will be built in composites for a better insulating effect and therefore lower energy consumption. Lastly, Zero’s hull is also to be painted with an infrared-reflecting paint that limits heat absorption by approximately 20 to 25 percent – an impressive figure.