Recyclable boat aims for Olympic Games glory

The Ultimate Boat Company says it will use a newly developed recyclable composite named Danu, made from styrene-free resin and “sustainable” fibres that it claims are stronger, lighter and less flexible than conventional glass fibres, to build the one-design series of boats.

The material will form the Olympic 32, a concept keelboat that features a scow bow with an offset bowsprit – the wide-bow design tends to give a sailboat more righting moment and better downwind performance.

According to The Ultimate Boat Company, a minimum of 90 per cent of the Olympic 32 will be made from recyclable material. It uses a vacuum infusion process similar to conventional yacht making processes to create light, tough and consistent hulls.

The boat was designed by Finot Conq, a France-based design house. One of the boats the company has worked on was the Bihan 6.50, a “neo retro” keeled day sailer with a light 800kg displacement.

“This racing yacht has been specifically designed for the inaugural mixed double-handed offshore keelboat event at the Olympics,” Finot Conq designer David de Prémorel said.

“It has been developed to be super-fast upwind and downwind, which will make this event as engaging and exciting for spectators to watch as it will be for the competitors to sail.”

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games aims to be the first event to be carbon neutral by the time the lights go down on the closing ceremony.

Sailing’s worldwide body, Wold Sailing, is also calling for 90 per cent of a boat’s weight to be recyclable by 2028.
If the Olympic 32 is accepted as the Paros Game’s mixed shorthanded sailboat of choice, The Ultimate Boat Company will beat that target by four years.