Futuristic yacht sinks in the Pacific

PAPEETE – A European eco-explorer has been rescued in the Austral Islands in southern French Polynesia after his purpose-built “yacht of the future” sank off the island of Tubuai.

A local vessel was diverted to the area last week after a distress signal was detected and the 20 metre yacht was found half submerged with no one on board.

The 62-year-old sailor and an unnamed companion were later found on Tubuai which they had reached in the yacht’s inflatable.

The sailing boat is known as Dagda and on his website Delage says the boat is “a link to the future”.

“She draws her energy from the cosmos – the sun and the wind,” Delage blogs. “As this will undoubtedly be a requirement in the next 20 years. Throughout the sailing world, she is designed to use minimum water equivalent of fossil fuels, thereby reducing harmful emission into the environment for her lifespan.

“As a platform for scientific, ecological and sociological exploration, Dagda is an exceptional quality-made ??boat to ride the waves of the world’s oceans.”

News of the yacht sinking in French Polynesian waters has yet to hit the mainstream press and it is not known if the vessel is salvageable.

Information translated from French websites says the yacht’s distress beacon was activated and a ship was diverted to investigate where they spotted the abandoned half submerged boat.

Delage and his companion were finally reported safe on the remote island of Tubuai which they had made a run for in their motorised inflatable lifeboat. Reports say the pair were exhausted and were attended to by police and medical services.

His website says Delage spent several years dedicated to the construction of his ecological sailing yacht in Saint-Martin in the Caribbean before setting out in 2014 to sail to the Pacific.

“In order for a ‘green’ sailboat to be effective, it must be fast, Delage’s blog says. “Its ability to move quickly with little wind, allows it to generate its own wind. Dagda is a very fast boat whose shapes are inspired by recent racing sailboats from around the world.

“She is noticed everywhere by nautical experts because she represents a technological leap for large cruising yachts.

“Dagda can carry 500kg of scientific material and take a team of four experts on long-lasting missions. Her lifting keel allows Dagda to squeeze through the narrow and shallow passes of up rivers, deltas or explore the atolls.

“All the qualities previously mentioned make it a superb tool for vacationers – Dagda can take up to six people in exceptional comfort around the most beautiful places on the planet.”