After a test ride on this futuristic electric yacht designed in co-operation with BMW, all we can say is – that’s a starship, isn’t it?
When you hear the mighty BMW has been involved in the design of an electric yacht, you can’t expect not to be impressed by the result – but nothing could have prepared us for Tyde ICON, the first model of the German start-up Tyde which, guided by the steady hands of German entrepreneurs Christoph Ballin and Tobias Hoffritz, and in collaboration with BMW, created something that really left us speechless.
Exploring the Futuristic Exterior of Tyde ICON
From the outside, ICON seems so unusual and futuristic at first that at first glance you won’t be entirely sure what you’re looking at. On its lowbow silver hull, modeled after the hulls of modern America’s Cup racers, there is a huge glass superstructure with a prominent roof support on the very bow, which, joined with the stern roof supports, forms a unique structure.
A Closer Look Inside: The Luxurious Interior of Tyde ICON
This entire construction is uniquely robust, but ICON is as light as possible, safe and provides maximum visibility from the salon. The design was obviously created around maximum aerodynamics, but at the same time to provide maximum space – and it worked, inside, ICON is a marvel, from the closed aft, through the wide and tall sliding doors, through the entire salon. Next to the door, there is a large command post with a huge one-and-done screen, a stylish steering wheel, throttle levers and a joystick, for maneuvering in marinas.
To the left of the helm there is a single companion seat, with a sofa in front of it. Around the central coffee table there are two more seats, and up in the bow there is another swivel seat, excellent for views across the sea ahead. The color scheme in the interior is green-and-silver, with a plush carpet and pastel green upholstery of all sofas and chairs, the firm parts of which are made of reflective materials.
Combined with the huge side and ceiling glazed surfaces, this choice enhances the feeling of spaciousness and open space, even though the salon is closed on all sides.
Smooth Sailing: Tyde ICON’s Remarkable Performance on the Water
But if you think ICON’s exterior and interior are out of this world, wait until we tell you what it feels to actually sail on it. When cruising like an ordinary boat, ICON is very stable, almost swimming through the waves thanks to its foils that minimize all rolling.
The joystick makes it easy to get around in marinas, and the centralized computer system manages all thrusters, allowing the boat to maneuver in all directions. The same system, in combination with the foils, powerful articulators and small radars on the bow, enables foiling, lifting the boat above the surface on foils, which is just simply put, incredible.
Iconic Speed: Tyde ICON’s High-Performance Journey at 30 Knots
Foiling is as calm as flying, without jumps and jolts, as the computer adjusts the foils to the waves ahead in real time. This flying at one meter above the surface at a maximum speed of 30 knots really goes well with the starship feel of the salon.
With a range of 50 miles at 24 knots, Tyde ICON boasts the highest efficiency of any electric vessels its size, which is a great indicator that, with the integration of all existing technologies, future electrification in the yachting world could not only reduce emissions, but also bring new thrill into navigation.
Text Mlađan Marušić
Photos & video Tyde
