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(Above) First hybrid Lagoon 500 snug and secure in Freeport, Bahamas, after Atlantic crossing.
(Below).Ready to launch at Lagoon factory docks on the Garonne River in Bordeaux, France. |
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Tether at Miami, but no booth
Although EMP will not have a booth at the show, Tether will attend to consult with our growing list of builders and Lagoon's largest U.S. dealer, The Catamaran Company, which will exhibit the hybrid Lagoon 500.
The Lagoon 500 was the first E Motion hybrid boat to cross the Atlantic. Powered by 16 kw motors, the 50' luxury cat regenerated all electrical power for onboard systems once it reached the open ocean. When sailing speed hit 12 knots, regeneration reached a high of three kilowatts per motor. |
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Ft. Myers Beach, FL. E Motion hybrid drive will be in two catamarans at this year's Strictly Sail Miami show: our first hybrid Lagoon 500, which crossed the Atlantic on its maiden voyage from France to Florida, and a Kennex 380 catamaran equipped with a lower-cost system developed for retrofits.
A third hybrid boat expected at Miami - the spectacular Tag 60 catamaran designed by Greg Young - was not able to depart in time for the Feb. 17-21 show because of delays encountered during sea trials off Cape Town, S.A.
The 60' Tang from Tag Yachts is now heading across the Atlantic to its owner in Florida with all systems fully operational, according to Dave Tether, CEO of Electric Marine Propulsion (EMP), dba E Motion Hybrids. Tether returned from Cape Town last month after making final adjustments to the hybrid propulsion system.
Phenomenal boat
"This is a phenomenal boat," he says. "Just about everything that moves is electrically or hydraulically operated - even the windows and dining table in the salon. It was probably inevitable that something this complex would take longer to fine-tune than anticipated." |
| (Below) "Helm station" doesn't begin to convey the fingertip control available to the Tag 60 skipper. Sail sheets, traveler, boom vang, centerboards and mast rotation all operate at the push of a button. |
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| Kennex 380 will display a lower cost retrofit option for the E Motion system. |
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| Tang, the Tag Yachts 60' hybrid, is on its way to Florida, but too late for the boat show. |
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| Delivery captain Aron Stano takes Tang out for a spin after launching |
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Rooster tail in moderate winds shows Tang's high-speed capability. |
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