The British International Harmsworth Trophy is widely regarded as one of powerboating’s greatest prizes, rewarding speed, engineering ambition and technological progress. The iconic competition attracts the biggest names in the sport and has helped drive advances in marine design. More than 120 years after the competitions began, the Trophy has been reimagined without the engines and fuel that have long been its hallmark – as a new competition designed exclusively for electrically powered boats.
In mid-June, the SpiritBARTech F35 became one of the first challengers to take on the new Harmsworth Electric Boat Challenge, completing the Poole-Cowes-Poole course in 1 hour, 36 minutes and 53 seconds at an average speed of 30.35kts.
Developed through a collaboration between BAR Technologies and Spirit Yachts, the vessel utilizes advanced foiling technology developed for elite racing programs. Unlike a conventional race, the Harmsworth Challenge operates as a year-long time trial, with competitors attempting to set the fastest course time before the winner is announced later this year.
“The Harmsworth Trophy has always been about innovation,” said Ollie Pendleton, head of operations and vessels at BAR Technologies. “For most of its history, that meant finding ways to go faster with bigger engines and more power.
“Today, the challenge is different. The question is no longer how much fuel you can burn, but how efficiently you can move through the water.
“What makes the SpiritBARTech F35 special is that it demonstrates that performance and efficiency need not be competing objectives. Through advanced foiling and electric propulsion, we can achieve speeds that would have seemed impossible for an electric boat only a few years ago.
“Something is fitting about one of the world’s oldest powerboat trophies helping to showcase the future of marine technology.
“On top of this, an electric-powered powerboat is an exciting proposition; I’m sure enthusiasts will be quick to become fans having seen one at full speed.”
“It was a fantastic run and a privilege to take part in the next chapter of such a historic trophy,” added Simon Schofield, skipper of the SpiritBARTech F35. “Once the boat rises onto the foils, the experience is remarkable. It is fast, smooth and incredibly efficient. It challenges many of the assumptions people still have about electric boats.
“We set out to post a strong time, but just as importantly, we wanted to demonstrate what this technology can achieve in real-world conditions.”
The SpiritBARTech F35 combines Spirit Yachts’ craftsmanship with BAR Technologies’ expertise in foiling, hydrodynamics and performance engineering.
By lifting clear of the water, the vessel reduces drag, allowing electric propulsion to deliver performance levels that would traditionally require far greater energy consumption.