GREEN MOTION SAILS AWAY WITH THE MANSURA TROPHY
Agni Motors win the Royal Thames Mansura Medal
At a ceremony in the Royal Thames Clubhouse on Thursday evening, 12th May 2011, Gideon Goudsmit of African Cats BV was presented with the Royal Thames Mansura Trophy.
Bernhard Bihr, President of Bosch Engineering GmbH, with Gidieon Goudsmit, Gidoen's wife Elisabeth and the Royal Thames Yacht Club's Cup Bearer, Robin Aisher OBE, after the presentation of the 2010 Royal Thames Mansura Trophy to African Cats BV.
The Trophy, which is presented by the Club in association with Bosch Engineering GmbH and supported by the RYA and Green-Blue, was inaugurated in 2007 and is the most prestigious international maritime award presented for the development of new forms of hybrid power. Eligible vessels must use at least two independent sources of propulsive power, and the final drive system must be electrical. For full details of the award and the rules for entry please visit www.mansuratrophy.com
The revolutionary “Green Motion” was the runaway winner in the Offshore division. Built in Durban, South Africa, by African Cats BV with very lightweight construction and an innovative propulsion system allowing batteries to be recharged while under sail, she completed a long and successful maiden voyage to Ijmuiden in the Netherlands via Cape Town, St Helena and the Azores in 2010.
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr. Dr Cyril Nemeth MBE JP, was present and the awards were presented by Bernhard Bihr, President of Bosch Engineering, who said: ”I am very pleased to be here in this historic club presenting awards for forward looking projects and I congratulate African Cats BV on winning this year’s Mansura Trophy. Their Green Motion catamaran embodies all the innovative features and thinking that we as a company appreciate and strive to provide to all of our customers. I would also like to thank all the other entries which reflected the great strides being made in the marine industry to make propulsions systems more environmentally friendly.”
The German Ambassador was represented by Joachim Baron von Marschall and the Ambassador of Thailand was represented by Mr Siripakorn Cheawsamoot. The Chief Executives of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers were present, as were representatives of Imperial College, London, the RYA, and the Green-Blue.
Receiving the award on behalf of his company, Mr Goudsmit said “We are delighted that the Mansura Trophy Judges recognized the quality of our entry and the attractive combination of innovative features that is embodied in this new class of ocean-going catamarans for which we have a growing order book.”
The Inland division of the competition was won by “The Loon” built by Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company in Brechin, Ontario, Canada. This design of sturdy inland electric launch has undergone a long period of prototype development with the result that it has gained such a reputation throughout Canada and the USA that the builders are starting series production at a brand new facility at Rome NY in the United States with the active encouragement of the local authority.
Monte Gisborne and Ray Hirani of Tamarack Lake Electric Boats with the 1:10 scale model of their Inland Division Winner "The Loon".
Monte Gisborne, the Chief Executive of Tamarack, says that he and his partner Ray Hirani are grabbing this opportunity to raise awareness of the product in Europe and showed a 1:10 scale model of “The Loon” to show what they have designed. The Judges were impressed by the rigorous development process and proven reliability of the design of this smooth and silent lake and river boat.
Full submissions for the 2010 competition include two craft of different sizes from Mermaid Cruises and Shipping Co. Ltd in Thailand, built by Electric Boats Thailand Ltd. Another, from Hybrid Marine of Sandown, Isle of Wight in the UK, is Chelonian representing a number of canal narrow boats which incorporate Hybrid Marine’s well proven propulsion system, while the same system is also found in the Offshore Division joint entry by Jeremy Rogers Ltd and Hybrid Marine of the “Green Contessa” Calypso which had received a lot of attention in the British yachting press in 2010. Salterns Brokerage in Poole, Dorset entered the hybrid motor yacht Greenline 33 that was seen at the 2010 Southampton Show. Ian Rutter, by contrast, entered his immaculate Irene, a well known but always improving pleasure launch for use on the River Thames. Charly Teuscher from Vevey on Lake Geneva entered his hybrid launch SOLARLY.CH which, as reported in Electric Boat News for Autumn 2010, completed a record-breaking full circuit of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) using only solar power.
Jack Edwards, Chairman of Trustees for the Mansura Trophy, says “Once again, we have seen a wide range of technically innovative and well-designed craft demonstrating the huge strides that are being made in the field of marine hybrid propulsion. The generous support of Bosch Engineering GmbH, part of the Bosch Group, has raised our profile in the marine industry to a new level and has enhanced the scope of the competition. While encouraging prototype development, this award recognises the real achievement of entrants whose vessels were in commission before 31st December 2010.”
The Royal Thames Mansura Trustees award the Royal Thames Mansura Medal to the organization that in their view has done most to advance the cause of hybrid propulsion during the competition period. This year the award is made to Agni Motors from Gandhi Dham in Gujarat, India for their development and marketing of the sophisticated DC motor pioneered by Cedric Lynch. These motors are now installed in all types of hybrid and straight electric craft, from speed record hydroplanes to tourist long tails in Thailand. Agni Motors continue the development of this design and showed a new higher power version of the motor at the ceremony. Their Chief Executive, Arvind Rabadia received the Medal.
Arvind Rabadiya with the Mansura Medal for 2010 and two different capacity Lynch DC motors whose development won his company, Agni Motors, the Medal.
All photographs Copyright © Ingrid Abery Photography 2011.
Previous winners of the Trophy include the French-manufactured Lagoon 420 Hybrid sailing catamaran and EnviroBoat Developments from the UK. The inaugural Mansura Medal was awarded in 2008 to the British Electric Boat Association.
· Details of individual entrants are available from:
· African Cats BV – Gideon@africancats.com
· Hybrid Marine – graeme@hawkss.com
· Jeremy Rogers Ltd – sales@jeremyrogers.co.uk
· Mermaid Cruises & Shipping Co Ltd. – barry@huahincruises.com
· Ian Rutter – ianrutter@talktalk.net
· Salterns Brokerage – nick.smith@salterns.co.uk
· Solar Sailor Holdings Ltd – admin@solarsailor.com.au
· Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company – emotive@hotmail.ca
· Charly Teuscher – ch@arly.ch
· Agni Motors – info@agnimotors.com
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 275,000 associates generated sales of 38.2 billion euros in fiscal 2009. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for growth.
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861–1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.
Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com.
Bosch Engineering GmbH (BEG), headquartered in Abstatt near Heilbronn has been providing engineering services for over ten years. What started as a service for luxury-class cars, studies, and special models of series-produced vehicles has meanwhile been transferred to related areas such as commercial vehicles, construction and agricultural machinery and industrial applications as well as ships.
Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch-engineering.com .
Entries: International competitors are encouraged to register interest for the 2012 competition at www.mansuratrophy.com . A full set of rules and criteria for entry will be sent to applicants following the launch of that competition.
ROYAL THAMES MANSURA TROPHY ANOUNCES ASSOCIATION WITH THE BOSCH GROUP The 2010 Royal Thames Mansura Trophy, which recognises excellence and innovation in the development and application of hybrid power systems in marine vessels, is to be supported by The Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technology and services.
This prestigious international maritime award for ecology is presented every two years. Its aim is to encourage and recognise the development of vessels which use at least two independent sources to deliver propulsive power.. The final drive system must be electrical. Vessels entered must not exceed 122 m (400 ft) in length, and military craft are excluded. Awards are made in three separate classes – Offshore and Coastal craft, Inland Waters craft, and Prototypes – with one overall winner being presented with the Royal Thames Mansura Trophy.
Established in 2007, the Royal Thames Mansura Trophy has attracted entries from all over the world including Australia, Thailand and Germany. Previous winners include the French-manufactured Lagoon 420 Hybrid sailing catamaran, and Coniston Launches from the UK, for the conversion of diesel tourist launches to a solar-powered and generator supported electric drive system.
The Mansura Trophy was established in recognition of Royal Thames Yacht Club member Jack Delmar-Morgan. An early pioneer in electrical and automotive retailing, he created in 1912 a unique motoryacht called Mansura. Designed to run selectively under petrol, electric or sail power – or any combination of these sources – she was impressive in her silent running, ease of operation and manoeuvrability, and was considered ahead of her time in terms of ecology and innovation.
Delmar-Morgan’s grandson, Julian Delmar-Morgan, and David Barratt commissioned the Mansura Trophy, which is a bronze replica of the horse’s head which adorned the tiller on the Mansura. The Royal Thames Mansura Trophy is managed by a board of Trustees appointed by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, the world’s oldest continuously operating yacht club, and the Royal Yachting Association. Jack Edwards, Chairman of the Board, says he is delighted to welcome The Bosch Group as a supporter of this innovative ecological initiative.
ENVIROBOAT DEVELOPMENTS WIN THE ROYAL THAMES MANSURA TROPHY The Royal Thames Mansura Trophy contest for 2008 has been won by Enviroboat Developments. In 2005 they converted, two classic lake passenger launches from diesel to hybrid propulsion. This was a commercial enterprise and a company was especially formed to run the converted launches. The Trophy was presented by Rod Carr OBE, CEO of the RYA a long term partner in the Royal Thames Mansura Trophy competition, at the Royal Thames Yacht Club on Wednesday 29th April
The runner-up was the converted canal barge Ross Barlow - an experimental hydrogen cell hybrid inland waterways barge conversion by Birmingham University. Not yet commercial, but holding much promise for the future, in the view of the judges. An excellent and detailed submission. It won the Prototype and Hydrogen Cell division.
Mention should also be made of the winner of the Ocean-Going Hybrid category. This was the Island Pilot DES 12 entry from Miami. A diesel/electric ocean-going catamaran of interesting an innovative design and already in production. Similar in concept to that of the original Hybrid yacht Mansura.
The Electric Boat Association received the 2008 Mansura Medal, a new award presented to the organisation that the Trustees deem to have done most for the promotion of hybid power during the year.
The inspiration for this Trophy was Mansura, a cabin-cruiser built in 1910 driven by a petrol-electric hybrid propulsion system developed by her owner, Jack Delmar-Morgan, electrical engineer and member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. Following an article about Mansura in “Classic Boat” magazine, the writer, Kevin Desmond, persuaded Jack Delmar-Morgan’s grandson, Julian and David Barratt, a Royal Thames Yacht Club member, to commission a trophy to encourage hybrid marine propulsion.
The Royal Thames Mansura Trophy initiative will gain in both stature and competitors as the continuing need to eliminate global warming and reduce noise and atmospheric pollution encourage ongoing efforts to “improve the breed” and the range of hybrid motorboats, be they backed up by sail, biofuel, solar, fuel-cell or some other new technology. The further development of battery design is another focus of the competition.
In summary winners were:
Electric Boat Association - The Mansura Medal
Mike Manisty, Corvelia - Judges' Special Prize
TELCO, Catspaw II - Inland Hybrid
Island Pilot llc, DSe 12m - Offshore Hybrid
Birmingham U, Ross Barlow - Prototype and Hydrogen Cell - Runner-up
Enviroboat Developments Ltd, Ransome & Ruskin - All-electric - Mansura Trophy.
The panel of judges also receive Mansura Medals - DJ Arnold, D Barnard, RJ Bishop, K Hollamby, N Irens
(For pictures of the original Mansura, of the Trophy and of the presentation ceremony, please contact Jamie Houston
mailto:comms@royalthames.com?subject=
LAGOON 420 CATAMARAN SCOOPS TOP INTERNATIONAL AWARD 
The inaugural Royal Thames Mansura Trophy competition has been won by the Lagoon 420 hybrid-powered catamaran from French shipyard, Constrution Navale de Bordeaux. The ecological innovation and practicability of their design was recognised last night (19 February) in a ceremony at London’s Royal Thames Yacht Club when the trophy was presented to M. Loic Lagrange by HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The inspiration for this competition was Mansura, a cabin-cruiser built in 1912 and driven by a petrol-electric hybrid propulsion system developed by her owner, Jack Delmar-Morgan, electrical engineer and member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. Having researched the history of Mansura, marine writer, Kevin Desmond, persuaded Delmar-Morgan’s grandson, Julian, and David Barratt to commission a trophy to encourage hybrid boat propulsion.
With recognition from the Royal Yachting Association and launch support generously provided by The Green Blue, upwards of fifty projects were identified world-wide that addressed the spirit of the rules. Some 25 hybrid designs were followed up in Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA as the competition gathered momentum and international recognition, leading to a final shortlist of five contestants from four nations. Chairman of the judging panel, David Arnold, commented: “We were faced with a number of innovative and frankly ingenious original designs or retro-conversions but it was the Lagoon 420 motor-sailing catamaran which had the commercial advantage. Its use of one engine, one diesel generator and a bank of batteries which re-charge via propellers turned by the boat’s speed whilst under sail is simple and effective. The fact that Constrution Navale de Bordeaux has built over sixty Lagoon 420’s since 2003, half of which have made trans-Atlantic delivery trips, further underlines the potential.
We saw a very different approach from this year’s runner-up. The Sydney Harbour-based Sydney Solar Sailor passenger ferry, with its rigid photovoltaic sails supplying its electric motors, with back-up LPG generator, came in a strong second place, having been proven in service since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.”
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh takes a keen personal interest in innovative marine design and before the presentation, met finalists and diplomats from the competing nations, as well as representatives from the maritime world and members of the sponsoring Royal Thames Yacht Club, whose initiative is already gaining recognition and competitors for its 2008 competition. Constrution Navale de Bordeaux’s Loic Lagrange commented: “We are obviously very pleased and honoured to have our ecological engineering solutions recognised by the Mansura Trophy competition. We continue to explore hybrid power for our designs and winning this Trophy, in the face of so much international competition, is a very sweet success, especially as the trophy plinth is made from timber recovered from HMS Victory!”
