The VS-9 is designed and manufactured in Auckland bringing carbon fibre hydrofoils seen in the America's Cup to passenger transport. Photo: supplied
An Auckland boat builder has received its first European customer for an 11-person electric hydrofoiling boat.
Like the America's Cup boats lifting their hulls out of the water, the VS-9 high-speed catamaran brings foiling to passenger transport.
Vessev chief executive Eric Laakmann said an eco tourism resort in Northern Ireland will be the launch customer next year.
The resort called Finn Lough ordered the nine-metre electric catamaran to access remote points of the lake and transfer guests to their accommodation.
Laakmann said he is proud the Kiwi firm designs and builds the hardware and software in-house in an Auckland suburb.
The company says new orders are coming in from around the globe. Photo: supplied
"We have a 1500sqm facility in Mt Wellington. We do everything ourselves, we're making boats, we're wiring our electric motors and building actuators. It pretty much all happens under one roof."
Last year Vessev employed around 14 staff, now it is 45 with Laakmann expecting operations to scale up due to orders coming in from around the world.
"By this time next year we should be outputting one boat every five weeks."
He said it was an example of Kiwi ingenuity which "echoes" the America's Cup designers.
"Hydrofoiling is not new, but Team New Zealand really brought the modern incarnation to the world with the 2013 America's Cup," he said.
"You can credit the local marine ecosystem that we have in New Zealand with what we're doing on Friday."
The nine-metre boat flies above the water on carbon fibre hydrofoils at a cruising speed of 25 knots, or 46km/h.
Foiling first entered the America's Cup in 2013 - here is Team New Zealand racing in Spain last year. Photo: America's Cup/ Ricardo Pinto
The battery range is up to 50 nautical miles at cruise speed, according to the manufacturer.
And while the America's Cup boats have had their fair share of spills and thrills, Laakmann said the VS-9 had no such concerns as "safety is tantamount to what we do".
"Those foils are long but they're not that long. The boat is always very close to the water, and in the event the [boat]needs to get in the water, it's actually quite close.
"There will be some different configurations we will be releasing, like a recreational configuration in a matter of months."
Laakmann said the boat was efficient.
"Hydrofoiling is a huge unlock to performance."
Vessev chief executive Laakmann is promising a smooth on-water experience. Photo:
The VS-9 will arrive at Finn Lough next year, and Laakmann is guaranteeing a smooth ride.
"A flight on the VS-9 is smooth, silent, creates very little wake, and produces no on-board emissions."
The VS-9 was recently awarded a Red Dot Design Award, an international competition that celebrates excellence in product design. The vessel has wraparound windows offering uninterrupted views of the landscape.
The price of the vessel was held closely under wraps due to commercial contracts.
"At this point we have orders on three different continents and we are not too far away from having a few more continents on there."
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