Team Blue Rising Wins in Monaco!

🌊 INFLATABLE ELECTRIC BOAT

The Xtramarine inflatable electric boat is a lightweight, portable craft designed for calm inland waters. Built from drop-stitch and PVC materials, the hull measures 3.2 meters (10.5 feet) in length and 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) in beam. The rigid inflatable construction supports a stable ride, with a maximum load capacity of 380 kilograms.

Propulsion comes from an integrated 1.2 kW electric motor mounted at the stern. The motor draws power from a removable 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery stored under the deck. At cruising speed, the battery provides up to 90 minutes of range. Top speed is 10 km/h. Charging requires a standard 110V or 220V outlet and takes 4 to 5 hours for a full cycle.

Steering is controlled via a tiller handle connected to the motor. The design includes two seats, a flat deck, and grab lines for safety. Total weight with the battery is 42 kilograms, allowing for rooftop transport or easy storage in a car trunk. The boat can be inflated using a manual or electric pump in under 10 minutes.

Xtramarine is a marine startup focused on zero-emission watercraft. The company develops compact vessels for personal recreation, urban transport, and marina operations. Its inflatable electric boat is sold direct-to-consumer through its website and select marine distributors.

To learn more, visit the Xtramarine website here.

⚓️ E1 RESULTS - MONACO

Monaco delivered drama for the UIM E1 World Championship. Team Blue Rising, owned by Virat Kohli, captured its maiden victory on the waters off Port Hercule. Pilots John Peeters and Sara Misir outpaced Team Brady and Team Brazil in the final, lifting the squad to fourth in the standings.

The win jolted the title race. Team Brady sits on 135 points, one clear of Team Rafa. Aoki Racing holds 125, while Blue Rising has 114, keeping the fight tight.

Qualifying set the tone when Team Rafa’s RaceBird collided with Team Brazil during a high-speed run. The impact tore a section of foil from the Spanish entry, sent the craft taking on water, and forced officials to halt the session under a red flag. Pilot Tom Chiappe escaped without injury, yet his crew faced a rebuild before race day.

Celebrity owners filled the docks for the weekend. Tom Brady, LeBron James, Rafael Nadal, Didier Drogba and Marcel Claure watched their teams trade passes through a gusty swell as Kohli cheered from the pit wall with his engineers.

Variable conditions pushed pilots and the standard RaceBird fleet past prior limits. Tight corners inside the harbour left spray hanging in the air, while clean overtakes along the drag to the chicane rewarded bold throttle work. Peeters timed each boost and claimed the PIF Pilot of the Race award.

The series moves to Lagos in October and closes in Miami in November, with ten points covering the top four squads. Electric powerboat sport gained a landmark moment in Monaco; the championship picture grew sharper and the stakes rose.

🛝 MONACO ENERGY BOAT CHALLENGE

The 12th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge took place July 1–5, 2025 at the Yacht Club de Monaco. The event showcased sustainable maritime mobility through four competition tracks: Energy, AI, SeaLab and Open Sea. It drew 42 teams from 20 countries, with more than 1,000 students involved  .

In the Energy Class, UniBoAT from the University of Bologna claimed the overall championship. It also won the Innovation and Design awards, giving it its fourth Energy Class title (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)  .

The AI Class featured boats that navigated, docked and completed missions without human control. Antwerp Solar Boat Team from the University of Antwerp took first place in this category.

SeaLab competitors focused on hydrogen technologies and floating laboratory designs. The Elettra UniGe team from the University of Genoa earned the Eco‑Conception Prize. The Prima Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology Award (€25,000) went to Alma Mater Studiorum–Università di Bologna.

In the Open Sea Class, foiling prototypes and hydrogen engines caught attention. Hydrogen‑powered boats and foiling craft raced together. The field included nearly equal distribution of boat types: 30 electric, 12 hydrogen‑powered and 12 foiling.

Industry players such as Sanlorenzo, Ferretti, Lürssen and SBM Offshore participated in mentoring and tech sessions during four days of races and discussions  . The event hosted tech talks, job forums, alternative fuels and advanced yachting conferences.

Battery technology saw a major leap; energy storage capacity has nearly doubled at equal weight, with improved safety and onboard performance  . Interest in hydrogen grew, with liquid and solid storage systems, combustion engines and fuel cells gaining wider use  . Balsa fibre composites appeared in several hulls for their mechanical and environmental advantages.

The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge links academic research with marine industry. It drives innovation in electric and hydrogen propulsion, autonomous navigation and eco-friendly materials. The event positions Monaco as a global hub for green maritime progress.

For further details here: https://energyboatchallenge.com

⚡️ SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE WEEK

The Voltari 260 T/T.

⚙️ WEEKLY HAPPENINGS/ITEMS

• ePropulsion launches the eLite 500 W Long‑Shaft outboard – a taller‑transom version of its 6 kg portable motor, ideal for drift boats and inflatables. Article

• Torqeedo names Mary Jo Reinhart director of sales for North America, elevating the 14‑year company veteran to lead OEM, retail, and distributor strategy across the region. Article

• Vision Marine promotes Daniel Rathe to chief technical officer, shifting focus toward the commercial rollout of the E‑Motion 180E high‑voltage powertrain following the Nautical Ventures acquisition. Article

• SAAM & Enap unveil Latin America’s first electric tug, Trapananda, a 70‑ton bollard pull, 3 616 kWh battery cable-equipped tug now operating in Chile’s Puerto Chacabuco. Article

• Singapore launches its first fully electric tug, a 50‑ton bollard pull, 3 MWh LTO‑battery vessel developed by the Coastal Sustainability Alliance and Kuok Maritime Group to meet 2030 zero‑emission goals. Article