“Zero” is being created at Vitters in the Netherlands as a test bed for a fully electric super-sailboat. The Dutch studio Vripack is responsible for the interior and exterior design, whilst Dykstra Naval Architects is providing the technical design. The owners wanted to be able to sail self-sufficiently for two weeks without burning diesel. This led to the development of a concept that generates energy rather than merely consuming it. The launch is scheduled for summer 2026.
Energy system with Turboprobs
The ship’s electrical system operates on 700 volts of direct current. Turbine propellers generate electricity using hydropower whilst the vessel is underway. The bimini tops are fitted with 100 square metres of photovoltaic-thermal panels. These modules supply both electrical energy and heat simultaneously. The ship uses the heat for heating and cooling. A dedicated control room monitors all energy flows.
Emirates Team New Zealand assisted with the hull optimisation. CFD tests showed a 2.5 per cent increase in speed as a result of the modified design. Faster sailing increases the turbines’ power generation by eight per cent, provided there is sufficient wind.
Design details and choice of materials
According to Vripack, every design element had to meet three criteria: practicality, seamless integration and an attractive appearance. There are also many references to nature. A decorative fin runs along the metallic-blue fuselage, the fanned-out end of which is modelled on the feather of a black-browed albatross.
Vripack rejected standard fittings. The shipyard produced custom-made stanchions, cleats and thimbles. The surfaces are matt, not polished. The stern ends abruptly with a metal strip and a transom featuring a hand-painted imitation wood finish – a deliberate stylistic departure. The swim platform also serves as a gangway. It swivels, folds flat and remains non-slip when wet.
The design combines traditional craftsmanship with 3D printing, whilst artificial intelligence has been used to create the artwork on board. Vripack utilised virtual reality to conduct a full tour of the ship prior to construction. VR planning shortens the design iteration cycle. Errors are spotted early on, rather than only during construction.
Geometric design principle
The Vripack team ensures that all forms begin or end with a full radius. This principle applies to furniture, windows and transitions between rooms. The structural framework, made from Brazilian FSC-certified teak, appears to grow organically from the Tesumo deck. Curved textured glass connects the levels. Inside, there are hand-carved oak corners with a double curve. Ceiling lights follow the curve of the deck.
Marnix Hoekstra, Co-Creative Director at Vripack, describes these connections as the key to tranquillity on board. Every detail responds to the same rhythm. There is no over-design. Geometry forms the backbone, nature the soul.
Natural finishes instead of high-gloss finishes
There are no polished surfaces whatsoever. Instead, earthy textures dominate. The California Lounge serves as a guest workspace and emergency sleeping area. It features a coffee table made of multicoloured fire onyx with an embossed leather finish. The furniture is crafted from pine bark, a by-product of timber production. The bark imparts a scent and adds texture to the surfaces.
The smoked European oak was sourced locally. Vripack selected veneers with visible knots, cracks and grain patterns. Normally, boatbuilders would discard such pieces. Here, however, they were intended to showcase the material’s vitality. The owners love nature and wanted to feel it within the boat. This approach utilised 70 per cent of the oak veneer. The usual figure is 30 per cent.
The stone slabs in the bathrooms feature cut lines and rough surfaces. Their leathery texture is the result of a special finishing process. No two slabs are alike. Imperfections are encouraged, not prohibited.
“Zero” adjustments in detail
Vripack visited the owners’ homes prior to the design phase. The discussions revealed a desire for elegance, comfort and independence. The main cockpit features modular furniture on castors. Two-seaters and tables can be quickly combined to create dining areas for four, eight or twelve people. On the previous vessel, the crew took a long time to reconfigure the space. Now it takes just minutes.
The electric cockpit windows close at the touch of a button. There is plenty of storage space in both the guest and crew areas. Handrails help landlubbers keep their footing in rough seas. Cut-outs in the work surfaces accommodate custom-made trays that won’t slide around when the boat is listing.
Master bedroom and study
The saloon table also serves as a craft table; according to Vripack, the owners enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles. The absence of an engine room has created space for a service passageway, allowing the crew to access all areas discreetly. Four guest cabins are themed around places that are important to the owners: these include Italy and French Polynesia.
The owner’s suite wraps around the mizzen mast, which is adorned below deck with a sculpture by the American artist Sienna Martz. A passageway leads from the suite to the private study. At the stern, the gangway doubles as a swim ladder. In the mornings, the owners swim from the stern. The ladder swings out, lies flat and remains non-slip when wet. This dual function saves space and weight.
Sören Gehlhaus
Stellvertretender Chefredakteur BOOTE EXCLUSIV
