SILVER ARROWS MARINE
SILVER ARROWS MARINE GRANTURISMO COMPLETES FIRST SEA TRIALS
• Encouraging results from radical new 14m hull design
• Automotive techniques used for hi-tech data-logging
• Innovative Granturismo of the seas concept on target
London, 14th December 2012: The first Granturismo of the
seas – the unique Silver Arrows Marine 14m luxury motor
yacht being styled in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz
Style – has come a significant step closer to reality after
the successful completion of its first sea trials.
“This was an exciting moment for Silver Arrows Marine and I
am pleased to say the boat showed all the potential we
expected, and more,” said SAM Chief Executive Officer
Jacopo Spadolini. “The boat looked solid, powerful and like
nothing else afloat.”
The sea trials provided the first taste of how the innovative
new hull performs in a variety of trim, load and sea states.
Hi-tech data acquisition techniques were employed, with the
results providing an invaluable basis for future
development work. As befits a project that merges both
marine and automotive worlds, many of the techniques
used, including automotive-style data acquisition, have their
origins in motor racing.
SAM Engineering Director Giorgio Stirano, who has run
Formula One motor racing teams, said: “Boats are not
racing cars but to use F1-style telemetry for data logging
makes a great deal of sense. With equipment such as
accelerometers and gyroscopes, along with GPS positioning, we have been able to build up a good picture of the boat’s abilities.”
The prototype used in the sea trials is an open hull and
lacks the distinctive superstructure, with its many new
design features, of the finished yacht. The trials included
an offshore “racing circuit”, complete with virtual corners,
so that comparable lap times could be taken to gauge how
different set-ups affected the boat’s performance,
handling and comfort.
Helmsman for the first trials, SAM Global Marketing and PR
Director Paolo Bonaveri, said: “The hull is very new and
different in terms of its profile and in certain sea states it
impressed us greatly for its maneuverability and comfort.
“We liken our motor yacht to a Granturismo motor car:
dynamic but with great comfort and luxury, and the trials
showed we are on the right course.”
The sea trials provided an opportunity to fine-tune the
propulsion system and assess the boat’s capabilities in
different conditions, and in particular its ability to stay “dry”
at its projected cruising speed of 30 knots. The sea trials
are expected to continue into the next months.
Jacopo Spadolini concluded: “We are not looking for
ultimate speed but all-round performance with great
comfort and ease of handling. Our testing shows we are on
the way to achieving it but we recognize there is a lot of
work still to be done.”
Designs and video simulations of the first Silver Arrows
Marine yacht were first displayed at a special presentation
in Monaco at the time of the Monaco Boat Show in
September. More details of the yacht’s innovations and
unique design, the result of a SAM partnership with
Mercedes-Benz Style, will follow soon.
Ron Gibbs, Silver Arrows Marine Chairman, said: “The
success of this important first step in the development
process means the SAM motor yacht is on its way. The hull has shown what it can do, now the focus can shift to the
superstructure. We have a great deal still to do but I am
confident the first SAM prototype is progressing well.”
