- The building of the super J-class "Rainbow"
The J-Class
Rainbow, designed
by Dykstra & Partners
for a repeat client, has
started building at
Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw.
When the hull will be
ready, Rainbow
will be transported to
be finished at Holland
Jachtbouw (HJB). The
re-build of this
originally William
Starling Burgess
Designed yacht will be
under supervision of
Dykstra & Partners Naval
Architects. Rainbow
will be built and fitted
out to race with the
existing and new J’s
according to the JCA (J
Class Association)
rules.
To keep the J-Class
fleet and races alive
and to encourage new
build yachts to enter
the field, new JCA
maximum performance
rules have been
developed, including
allowing aluminum as
building material. The
new rule is a VPP
(Velocity Prediction
Program) based rating
system which puts limits
to the performance. This
new rule has been
developed by the Dykstra
& Partners office and
the Wolfson Unit in
Southampton. The aim of
the JCA, the Dykstra
team and the rule is to
bring fair & close
racing to the fleet and
to give all designs a
chance of winning (on a
handicap based system).
Over the years the
Dykstra team gained an
enormous amount of
hands-on information by
racing on all the J’s in
the current fleet.
Dykstra & Partners have gained over 20 years of J-Class experience and where responsible for the rebuilds of the J-Class yachts: Shamrock V, Velsheda, Endeavour, refit of Ranger and the new build Hanuman (Endeavour II project). Rainbow will be the 2nd new J-Class in order for the Dykstra team. More new J-Class projects in design for clients and refits under supervision of Dykstra & Partners for current J-Class yachts are planned to take place in the coming year.
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Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw +31(0)515232528 info@bloemsma-aluminiumbouw.nl |
Dykstra & Partners
Naval Architects +31 (0)20 6709533 info@gdnp.nl |
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Holland Jachtbouw +31(0)75 614 9133 hjb@hollandjachtbouw.nl |
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- Rainbow: a J-class boat with a future
On Friday
22nd January, before a large crowd, the keel was laid for Rainbow. The
original Rainbow, commissioned by Harold Vanderbilt, was built in 1934
to defend the America’s Cup against Endeavour.
Rainbow’s defense was
successful, but Rainbow was sold for scrap in 1940.
Gerard Dykstra & Partners have
been asked to redesign this Dutch flagged J-class boat, based on the
original drawings.
Rainbow will be built to win but this does not
mean there will be less comfort below decks. As may be expected on a
yacht this size, the interior design will be luxurious and comfortable.
According
to the original plans a Boxboom will be used instead of the
“Park Avenue” boom and the design of the rigging will be original too.
But the 40 meter yacht will now have an aluminium hull and full carbon
mast and rigging.
Rainbow will be fitted with a diesel-electric
propulsion system. Two generators deliver 350Kw shaft horsepower. The
propeller, which has hydraulically adjustable pitch, will be used to
charge the batteries on Atlantic crossings. This hybrid engine is
smaller and lighter than other engines. This feature makes Rainbow quite
unique.
The hull is constructed by Freddie Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw in
Makkum, the Netherlands. In spring 2010 the boat will be transported
over water to Holland Jachtbouw in Zaandam where she will be finished.
By the end of 2011 she will be launched and extensive tests and
trainings will commence.
The first J-class event in which Rainbow
will compete will be in July 2012 in Cowes.
Rainbow meets Endeavour
again!
Rainbow will be fitted out for racing but she can also be
chartered for pleasure trips or business incentives. A permanent crew of
seven will look after a maximum of eight guests.
J-Class Sailing Yacht ‘Rainbow’ and WhisperPower hybrid propulsion system
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The sailing yacht Yankee and SY Rainbow
will be fitted with a unique WhisperPower Hybrid propulsion
system allowing them to navigate at up to 5 knots and manoeuvre
entirely without emissions using 2 x 288 VDC/160Ah Lithium Ion
batteries (LiFeYP04). During sailing no generators are needed to control the sails as all hydraulics are powered by the same battery banks. Most of the time the on board 230/400 VAC consumers, including the air conditioning, will operate through a 35 kVA inverter via the batteries. A 50 kVA variable speed generator from WhisperPower will be installed to recharge the batteries and provide electrical power to the various loads. An auxiliary diesel engine of 294 kW is planned with a 50 kW flywheel-integrated electrical motor for electric propulsion and will double as a shaft generator when the yacht is under way, generating a maximum power of 10 kW. The systems are designed in close collaboration with Holland Jachtbouw and leading technical companies in the Netherlands. |
The weather in Den Helder ; the Netherlands