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ETERNAL SPARK Yacht Penultimate Sea Trials 24.4.2024
On the 24th of April, ETERNAL SPARK yacht concluded her penultimate sea trials. It was a perfect day for a cruise, but not just any cruise – ETERNAL SPARK`s second-to-last sea trial before her release from the shipyard, in 3 to 4 weeks.
The atmosphere was more than optimistic as ETERNAL SPARK cut through the waves with ease, signalling to all potential future guests she is ready to take on clients for the upcoming 2024 summer charter season in the West Mediterranean.
Also on board were the representatives of the RINA naval classification, independent inspectors and surveyors who were there to make sure that everything was up to the highest vessel safety standards, as well as luxury yacht comfort levels. Judging from the overall atmosphere, things could not have gone better.
The envoys from RINA made sure that every technical aspect of ETERNAL SPARK was up to their rigorous safety and quality control standards
Everything that has to do with movement, navigation and performance was checked more than two times, to ensure that there was NO margin for error and that ETERNAL SPARK yacht satisfied the strictest possible standards of the industry.
Engines were purring, and the well-maintained machinery gave testament to the expertise of Mr. Adam Howard Smith, the chief engineer, but also the great work put in by the Bilgin and CAT teams, during previous engine installation and fine-tuning.
Since the safety and comfort of the guests are always a priority on charter yachts, the RINA inspectors were very particular in making sure that everything was ready for the busy charter season ahead.
All of this pointed to ETERNAL SPARK`s mission statement, i.e commitment to excellence in building the „the best 499 GT’er in the world“
Preparations for the sea trials
Before the real sea trials could commence, ETERNAL SPARK needed to go through extensive checks and inspections of the water and fuel tanks, hatches, openings, and engine room.
All the tanks were checked for their contents; the fuel tanks measured 18.000 litres, and the overall water capacity measured 5.500 litres, 500 of which were grey water, 3000 were blackwater and the remaining was water used for human consumption.
The day was clear and sunny, with 18 ° outside and 13.7 ° water temperature. The wind situation was variable, and the tides were non-existent. The test lasted for 6 hours.
The cruising speed of ETERNAL SPARK was 11.5 – 12.5 knots, with an average fuel consumption of 130 litres of fuel per engine. This incredible statistic testifies to the sustainable fuel consumption on ETERNAL SPARK and is a big bonus for all guests who will want to cruise extensively.
Usually, guests think that yachts start like a car – you turn the key and off you can go. This could not be further from the truth.
Chief engineer Howard Smith needed to test everything on board: every mechanical and electrical component was double-checked before the yacht could start. During cruising and zero-speed, both the engines and stabilisers responded excellently to the sea conditions.
Everything was running like clockwork, which served as a great prequel of things to come in ETERNAL SPARK’s first charter season.
Sea Trial tests
Among many other tests, these are just some of the more important tests conducted during ETERNAL SPARK`s sea trials:
First, engine measurements were taken at different RPMs (Rotations-Per-Minute) to determine the speed and fuel consumption of the yacht. Since ETERNAL SPARK was 95% finished and all the necessary weight was on the boat (like furniture and amenities), fuel consumption was measured for future real-life references.
Next, the boat was driven at full RPM (maximum speed) for one hour, and the speed and RPM were monitored for consistency.
After that, steering tests were conducted with and without the stabilizers engaged, and the heeling degree was cautiously monitored. The final test was a full-speed turn to one side and then the other, simultaneously measuring heel degree changes parallel to speed changes.
One of the next tests was a single-engine operation test. One engine was turned off, and the other engine was forced to operate in various RPM modes. This was done to see how the yacht would behave with only one engine in case of engine failure.
The most important test was yet to follow; the Crash test might sound like a bad thing, but it`s actually quite a well-known test which readers will surely recognize from the „Titanic“ movie scene where the boat tries to avoid the iceberg.
With ETERNAL SPARK, there was no emergency and no iceberg, but still, conditions needed to be checked to see how she would behave in an emergency.
Measurements were taken to determine how long it takes the yacht to stop at full speed and how long it takes to start moving backwards. So, the propellers stopped abruptly and then reversed, which allowes the yacht to dodge potential risks on the water in the future.
During the Crash test, the water integrity of the doors was also tested, which extended mainly to the beach club area and transom doors, as well as checking watertight door alarms and alarms in the water drainage system.
At water level, ETERNAL SPARK`s wave-piercing hull showed how much work Unique Yacht Design put into crafting a precise hydrodynamic hull that is also aesthetically pleasing. Due to its properties, the hull mitigates fuel costs, while also improving overall cruising speed.
The smoothness of the cruise cannot be overstressed – every charter guest will find that ETERNAL SPARK`s behaviour underway is a smooth and enjoyable experience; even downtime spent on transit will be an enjoyable holiday factor on this yacht.
Guest-friendly cruising experience
Maybe the most important sea trial test results (as far as future charter clients go) were the speed and fuel consumption of ETERNAL SPARK yacht, as well as noise and vibration level checks across all decks and guests areas.
In this regard, ETERNAL SPARK passed with flying colours.
She proved she is a true champion when it comes to sustainability and economical fuel consumption. She burns an extremely low 16 litres per engine at speeds of around 5,5 knots, which is an absolutely incredible result!
This is ideal for guests who want a slower cruising experience, where they can enjoy the panorama and not worry about fuel expenditure, whatsoever.
During her tests, it was determined that ETERNAL SPARK`s optimal cruising speed was between 11.8 and 12,5 knots, during which she consumed between 240-260 litres of fuel in total.
When it came down to sound and vibration measurements, the RINA inspectors concluded that guests aboard ETERNAL SPARK will not have trouble while sleeping and resting in their accommodations underway!
Sound tests were also carefully monitored by Captain Mark Everard, using a special dB meter, at cruising speeds above 12 knots.
The main salon, located directly above the engine room, measured only around 56 dB at cruising speed, which is equal to the sound of moderate rainfall. Another exceptional result!
Following the same pattern, incredible figures were achieved on the lower deck. The fact that noise levels reached only 45 dB in the twin cabin (which is about the same noise level as a quiet office) gives credibility to the sturdiness of insulation and antivibration works done on the lower deck.
The double cabin measured around 50 dB, and the bridge deck salon was about the same.
All of the vibrational and acoustic tests conducted pointed to one particularly incredible fact; during a typical charter holiday, ETERNAL SPARK can relocate from one bay to another in complete silence, surprising her guests with a new location each morning, without disturbing their rest.
Since ETERNAL SPARK was constructed in a specific way, with innovative sound-proofing technologies, her builders and designers achieved incredible results in buffering almost all noise from the engine room, ensuring a charter experience like no other.
While underway, another interesting thing happens on the stern. ETERNAL SPARK`s aft is designed in such a way that guests on the swimming platform will not get splashed, even when achieving speeds over 10 knots.
This is because the underwater aft section of the yacht was precisely moulded so that the foam trial starts several yards away from the swimming platform.
A detail like this improves the charter guest experience since they can spend time at the water’s edge, even when ETERNAL SPARK is cruising at full speed.
Champagne at the end
After all the meticulous tests were over, it was happily concluded that ETERNAL SPARK is fully ready to accept bookings and deliver a bespoke charter experience for the upcoming 2024 charter season in the west Mediterranean Sea.
The excitement was clearly visible among the crew and the project team. Department heads and crew wanted to celebrate with champagne, which was popped as the last test was successfully concluded.
In light of these events, we are happy to extend invitations for bookings at
charter@eternalsparkyacht.com