The TU Delft Solar Boat Team is working this year on the Hydro Motion project, in which 20 ambitious students are designing, building and racing their first hydrogen-powered boat. Recently, the students completed the design phase and started production of their hydrogen boat at carbon composite specialist Rondal. Rondal is one of the team's main partners and supports not only on a financial level, but especially with the company's knowledge, expertise and facilities.
Happy
The team is very happy to see that Rondal, along with the other partners, is supporting the team's mission; to inspire the maritime sector, currently a large consumer of fossil fuels, to move faster towards a green future. With this project, called Hydro Motion, the team members are working towards a hugely challenging competition; the Solar & Energy Boat Challenge that will take place in Monaco this July.
Rondal
Rondal is a Vollenhove-based company with a passion for the water and composites. They make parts for superyachts and specialise in composite production. The company was founded in 1976 by Royal Huisman Shipyard and consists of 65 hard-working professionals. The TU Delft Solar Boat Team is making the big move from solar energy to hydrogen this year. Therefore, in combination with the aim of sustainability, the hulls of the trimaran built by the team in 2019 are being reused. At Rondal, students prepare the hulls of the 2019 boat for reuse. The sun deck is taken off and the hulls are sanded and reinforced. New carbon parts are also made. The students, in collaboration with Rondal staff, are hard at work on the wings. Which should soon lift the 1,000-plus-kg boat out of the water. They are also making a new cap that will be attached to the top of the boat and several carbon plates.
Both Rondal's staff and the students of the TU Delft Solar Boat Team found it an awesome experience. As our Chief Hull & Body Jan also says: "It is really cool to see your design become reality. We are making great strides towards the race in Monaco!". The cooperation was very pleasant. Rondal has been committed to our team for years and we learn a lot from the cooperation and experienced professionals. It's nice to see that the people at Rondal are really interested in our students and the process the team is going through.
Boat christening and race
Besides Rondal's employees, the team would like to give all other interested parties the opportunity to follow our project and our boat up close. Therefore, the christening of the boat will take place on 10 May; a festive online event where the team will show the built boat to the outside world. Lennard, co-responsible for the work preparation design & engineering of all composite parts at Rondal, has followed our project closely and actively helped: "I think you have thought very well about what you want. The cleverness and razor-sharp details of the foils translated well from design to product. That does give me enough conviction that the race in Monaco can be a success." Interested parties can follow our adventure and project via the TU Delft Solar Boat Team's website and social media.
