"Zero" is created at Vitters in the Netherlands as a test vessel for an all-electric supersailer. Dutch studio Vripack was responsible for the interior and exterior design, while Dykstra Naval Architects provided the technical design. The owners wanted to be able to sail self-sufficiently for a fortnight without burning diesel. This resulted in a concept that generates energy instead of just consuming it. The launch is planned for summer 2026.
Energy system with turboprobs
The on-board power supply works with 700 volts direct current. Turbine propellers generate electricity during the journey using hydropower. The biminis carry 100 square metres of photovoltaic-thermal panels. These modules supply electrical energy and heat at the same time. The ship uses the heat for heating and cooling. A dedicated control room monitors all energy flows.
Emirates Team New Zealand helped with the fuselage optimisation. CFD tests showed an increase in speed of 2.5 per cent due to the modified shape. Faster sailing increases the power generation of the turbines by eight per cent, provided there is sufficient wind.
Construction details and choice of materials
According to Vripack, each design element had to fulfil three criteria: practical use, seamless integration and an attractive appearance. There are also many natural covers. The metallic blue fuselage has a decorative grommet running through it, the fanned-out end of which is modelled on the feather of a black-browed albatross.
Vripack rejected standard fittings. The shipyard produced customised railing supports, cleats and jibs. The surfaces are matt, not polished. The stern ends abruptly with a metal moulding and a transom with hand-painted imitation wood, a deliberate break in style. The bathing platform also serves as a gangway. It swivels, turns flat and remains non-slip when wet.
The design mixes old craft techniques with 3D printing, while artificial intelligence helped with artwork on board. Vripack used virtual reality for a complete tour of the ship before construction. VR planning shortens change loops. Errors are noticed early on, not just during construction.
Geometric design principle
The Vripack team has all shapes begin or end in a full radius. This rule applies to furniture, windows and room transitions. The superstructure made of Brazilian FSC teak grows visually out of the Tesumo deck. Curved textured glass connects the levels. The interior features hand-carved oak corners with double curvature. Ceiling lights follow the curvature of the deck.
Marnix Hoekstra, co-creative director at Vripack, calls these connections the key to calm on board. Every detail responds to the same rhythm. There is no over-design. Geometry forms the backbone, nature the soul.
Natural surfaces instead of high gloss
Polished surfaces are completely absent. Instead, earthy textures dominate. The California Lounge serves as a guest work area and emergency sleeping area. There is a coffee table made of multi-coloured Feueronyx with an embossed leather look. The furniture is made from pine bark, a waste product from timber production. The bark is fragrant and adds texture to the surfaces.
Smoked European oak came from local production. Vripack selected veneers with visible knots, cracks and grains. Normally, boat builders sort out such pieces. Here they were intended to show the vitality of the material. The owners love nature and wanted to feel it in the boat. This approach used 70 per cent of the oak veneer. Normally, 30 per cent is used.
Stone slabs in the bathrooms have cut lines and rough surfaces. The leathery feel is created by special processing. No two slabs are the same. Flaws are welcome, not forbidden.
"Zero" customisations in detail
Vripack visited the owners' homes prior to the design. 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 ship, it took the crew a long time to rebuild. Now it can be done in minutes.
Electric cockpit windows close at the touch of a button. There is plenty of storage space in the guest and crew areas. Handholds help landlubbers in rough seas. Cut-outs in the work surfaces accommodate customised trays that do not slip when the boat is tilted.
Owner's suite and work area
The saloon table also serves as a craft table; according to Vripack, the owners like to do puzzles. The lack of an engine room has created space for a service walkway that allows the crew to reach all areas discreetly. Four guest cabins are themed around places that are important to the owners: Italy and French Polynesia are among them.
The owner's suite surrounds the mizzen mast, which is adorned below deck with a sculpture by American artist Sienna Martz. A passageway leads from the suite to the private study. Aft, the passarelle acts as a bathing ladder. In the morning, the owners swim from the stern. The ladder swivels, lies flat and remains easy to grip when wet. This dual function saves space and weight.
Sören Gehlhaus
Stellvertretender Chefredakteur BOOTE EXCLUSIV
