The innovative E1 electrically-powered motorboat, equipped with hydrofoil, touched the water for the first time on the Po River in San Nazzaro, home to one of the world’s motor boating circuits. The RaceBird prototype has successfully completed a series of tests and technical trials, under the expert guidance of Luca Ferrari, former powerboating world champion.
RaceBird engineers conducted various technical tests and checks of on-board systems to verify the overall performance and reliability of the model and its electrical components.
The test program, which will continue in the weeks to come, included tests on straights, qualifying tests and race simulations, with a focus on set-up and performance analysis, with the aim of collecting data in relation to the foil and course holding in different race conditions.
RaceBird and E1 World Championship
The single-seater RaceBird was born from the vision of the Norwegian designer Sophi Horne who co-created it together with Brunello Acampora and the experienced naval engineers of Victory Marine and SeaBird Technologies. RaceBird is powered by a 150 Kw Kreisel battery and a Mercury Racing outboard motor; the speedboat lifts quickly on the foils with the benefit of instant turns and accelerations.
The organizers of the E1 championship wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to also evaluate the different elements that could be included in the format of the races, including the autonomous buoys and the width of the turns, as well as to test the positioning of the on-board cameras that will be used to transmit images during the race.
The debut of the first season of the E1 World Championship is scheduled for spring 2023. Fans, however, won’t have to wait long to see the first RaceBird rise above the water, as its first public appearance will be announced shortly.
Electric racing on water
Alejandro Agag, Co-Founder and President of E1, said “This is a pivotal moment in the history of the E1 World Championship. We are now one step closer to making electric racing on water a concrete reality. It closely reminds me of the same moment we experienced in the early stages of Formula E and Extreme E: this is another of those crucial moments in the history of these sports. Seeing RaceBird racing on water is confirmation for me that we can use this exciting new sports platform to drive technological innovation in the marine industry and create something spectacular for fans in the cities we visit.”
Developing a change in marine industry
Rodi Basso, Co-Founder and CEO of E1, then added: “It is also a great thrill for me to see RaceBird in the water for the first time, and the same can be said for all those who have worked on this project in the past months. It took a lot of team work to finally get to this moment and it would not have been possible without the help and support of our partners Victory Marine and SeaBird Technologies. Special thanks also go to Kreisel and Mercury Racing for the work they have done in preparing the battery and outboard motors.
RaceBird has exceeded our expectations so far especially when it comes to performance, agility and the ability to make tight turns. The current performance is exactly what we hoped for to allow for exciting foil-to-foil racing near the coast. In the coming weeks we will continue with testing and data collection.
I can’t wait to be able to show our model to the public too and we will soon announce where and when. This test is the first page of a new chapter in the electrification of the marine industry, where our role is to accelerate the development of future technologies for the benefit of aquatic ecosystems“.
Create a unique boat
Sophi Horne, RaceBird designer and founder of SeaBird Technologies, concluded by saying: “I’ve been waiting for this moment for almost three years! Coming to this point is truly a relief and at the same time a great pride in what we have been able to build thanks to the combined efforts of SeaBird and Victory Marine. Seeing the boat touch the water and leave … is a memory that I will carry with me forever.
It was great to see my project come to life and transform into a speedboat ready to race. There is certainly still a lot of work to be done but this first round of testing was exactly what we hoped it would be.
With RaceBird I wanted to create something unique that stood out and stood out for its aesthetics. Seeing it now slide on the water I can say that not only have we hit the target but we have also managed to go further. “
