3D-PRINTED ‘VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE’ SUPERYACHT

With reflective ‘Solar Wings’ the futuristic yacht Pegasus is the world’s first 3d printed superyacht solarelectric/hydrogen hybrid with zero emissions and a multi-level ‘Tree of Life’ hydroponic garden.

Eilidh McIntyre, who fulfilled her lifelong dream of winning a gold medal at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is retiring from Olympic campaigning.

The 28-year-old topped the podium in the women’s 470 class alongside Hannah Mills, and in doing so matched the gold medal won by her father Mike at Seoul 1988. The win also helped Hannah Mills become the most successful female Olympic sailor of all time.

For the Paris 2024 cycle, however, the 470 class is moving to mixed gender pairs, with Eilidh teaming up with Martin Wrigley, a training partner for Luke Patience and Chris Grube for Tokyo. Despite the duo finishing inside the top 10 at every event they have competed at, Eilidh came to the decision that she was not on course to win gold at Paris 2024.

She explained: “I did a lot of soul searching and had a lot of conversations with people I really value, and I have come to the decision to step away from Olympic sailing. It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have loved the last 13 years doing this, and winning a gold medal at Tokyo was the absolute highlight of my career.

“But for me the Olympics is about fighting it out for the win, and I want to be at the Olympics to do that. I do not believe that in the timeframe of this Olympic cycle that it is something I am able to do, so I am choosing to step away.”

A 470 sailor for her entire time with the British Sailing Team, Eilidh tasted early success alongside Sophie Weguelin. The pair pushed Hannah Mills and her then partner Saskia Clark hard during the selection trials for Rio 2016, just missing out on the one spot with Team GB.

However, Hannah and Eilidh went on to team up and became a formidable partnership with numerous medals, including gold at the 2019 World Championship, and culminating in the ultimate prize at Tokyo 2020.

Subsequently, Eilidh and Hannah were named 2021 Rolex World Sailors of the Year and Eilidh was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to sailing.

As for the future, the Olympian plans to explore opportunities in professional sailing, while also starting a property business alongside her sister.

Sailing is one of the longest running Olympic sports with a debut at the world games in 1900.Since then, it was omitted only once in the 1904 Summer Olympics.

The desire for ‘invisibility’ drove designer Jozeph Forakis to develop a true zero emissions yacht that is “invisible both in design and in her environmental impact”. The exterior designfeatures a multi-tiered ‘wings’ superstructure with mirrored glass reflecting the sky, clouds and surrounding environment.

The 88m superyacht’s construction uses robotic 3D printing to create a mesh framework integrating both hull and superstructure. The result is an extraordinarily strong and lightweight structure that can be produced using less energy, material, waste, space and time compared to conventional construction.

The centrepiece of the futuristic interior designis the multi-level ‘Tree of Life’ - a living, breathing monument to mother nature and the nucleus of the hydroponic garden providing fresh food and air purification.

The visionary Pegasus is envisioned for introduction in 2030.

MoneySuperMarket has branched out into boat insurance after partnering with Atec Group to offer direct-to-consumer boat insurance price comparison through the brand InsureMy.

InsureMy says it has “put together a panel of specialist marine insurers to provide cover for a range of boats from sailing yachts, narrowboats and motor cruisers through to jet skis, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, windsurfs and surfboards” – including cover for full time liveaboards.

James O’Hara, commercial director at Atec, explained: “Despite the impact of Covid, sales in new and used boats grew by nine per cent in 2020 and a further two per cent in 2021, while paddleboarding is thought to be the fastest-growing sport in the world, with sales in the UK more than doubling in the last year, so there has never been a greater demand for marine insurance products.”

Turn to page 16 for some great insurance advice from Craftinsure and Pantaenius.