Ocean 7 Adventurer

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The Ocean 7 Adventurer is a unique high-tech 35 m (115 ft) stabilized monohull twin diesel powered vessel designed by Nigel Irens. Construction of the Adventurer began in June 1997 and she was launched on March 16, 1998. The official naming ceremony took place on 3 April 1998 in London's West India Dock.

Originally named the Cable and Wireless Adventurer she was built for the purpose of circumnavigating the world in less than 80 days. This was successfully accomplished in July 1998 in 74 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes, traveling more than 22,600 nautical miles (41,800 km). This achievement set a new Guiness World Record for a powered vessel and stands to this day. This record is currently being challenged by the Earthrace biodiesel-powered wave-piercing trimaran that set off from Sagunto in Spain on Sunday April 27, 2008.

The design of the vessel was evaluated and proven by hydrodynamic tank testing and a 21.3m scale prototype named the iLAN Voyager completed sea trials to demonstrate the advantages of the concept.

Ocean 7 Adventurer
Ocean 7 Adventurer

The Adventurer is equipped with mostly British-designed, state-of-the-art navigation and communications equipment.

In 2007 the vessel was acquired by Ocean 7, a Cape Town based marine brokerage and charter operation. The vessel was recommissioned and transferred to its current location at the V&A Waterfront. The vessel is available for charter, film work and the occasional marine rescue operation.

In December 2007 the Ocean 7 Adventurer was chartered to retrieve a demasted yacht, the IMOCA 60 Delta Dore from the Southern Ocean. The Delta Dore was partaking in the Barcelona World Race. The yacht skippered by Jérémie Beyou and Sidney Gavignet was at position 47°00 S 033° 25 E, nearly a thousand miles south east from South Africa, drifting slowly at between 1 and 2 knots east. An hour after the mast had collapsed backwards, it had to be cut free and dumped into the ocean, as it was likely to damage the hull. The yacht had 188 litres of diesel on board, but this was insufficient to motor back to the mainland. The Ocean 7 team were approached with regard to salvaging the yacht. Skippered by co-owner David de Villiers, the Ocean 7 Adventurer set sail for the Southern Ocean and after locating the yacht, it was taken in tow with a 200 m rope. This rescue set a record for the longest tow in South African maritime history (850 nm).

[edit] SPECIFICATIONS

Length overall - 35 m

Beam overall - 14 m

Class - DNV Yacht R0

Main Engines - Cummins

Power - 2 x 261 kw

Max Speed - 24 knots

Cruising Speed - 22 knots

Fuel - 16,000 litres

Range - 3,500 nm

Accommodation - 12 to 16

Construction - Glass sandwich

Builder - Vosper Thornycroft (now VT Group plc)

[edit] External links


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