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The Drakkar S Smartyacht Concept Sails Itself for Utmost Convenience

Millionaires of the world with money to spare, a fervent desire to own their own superyacht but lacking the experience to sail it, now have something to dream about. A self-sailing yacht, as conceptualized by a naval designer.
Drakkar S is programmable via app, sails itself 10 photos
Photo: Max Zhivov
Drakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itselfDrakkar S is programmable via app, sails itself
Humanity is looking forward or at least preparing for the day when it will relinquish control to artificial intelligence. We’re preparing for autonomous cars, autonomous air taxis and, apparently, with the latest superyacht concept, for fully autonomous superyachts.

Here is Drakkar S, the latest from naval designer Max Zhivov (via DesignBoom). For the time being, it lives only in Zhivov’s imagination and the renders he created, but you never know what the future holds. If Zhivov had a say in it, it would include a self-sailing yacht, a smart yacht that you can control on your smartphone and that otherwise sails itself.

Drakkar S is programmable via app, sails itself
Photo: Max Zhivov
Drakkar S is a 26-meter (85-foot) vessel that stands out, first and foremost, for being AI-equipped. Zhivov imagines it as the ideal vessel for those who always wanted to own and operate their own superyacht but never amassed the know-how to do it.

As we’ve seen on a previous occasion, when we covered the Tiny Eco hotel slash boat, in his quest to provide sustainable means of exploring nature, Zhivov is a fervent proponent of full autonomy in the naval industry.

Thanks to a very advanced autopilot system using artificial intelligence and located at the head of the yacht, the Drakkar S would be able to sail the open seas but also perform more complicated maneuvers. Those would include approaching the berth at the right distance for mooring, or identifying surface and underwater objects without human intervention. Drakkar S would make steering a no-brainer even for the most inexperienced user and would do away with the need for a captain at the helm.

Drakkar S is programmable via app, sails itself
Photo: Max Zhivov
Zhivov also thought of the less-rich potential customer. The Drakkar S, for instance, could be made available for charter, in which case, the temporary owner could literally summon his superyacht at the desired location. Once on board, on a smartphone app, he or she would program the destination(s) and then just chill for the remainder of the trip.

Because it’s meant for the world of tomorrow, Drakkar S is also fully electric. Power comes from a state-of-the-art electric motor and 80 square-meter (861 square-feet) of solar panels on the roof. This means it will be completely noiseless, emissions-free, and good for the environment. It will also be cheap to run and maintain, making it a suitable choice for exploring more remote areas of the world without causing damage to the pristine environment there.

Amenities on board would include a sizable beach club aft, a dining salon, a kitchen, two master suites, and two guest cabins, offering accommodation for up to eight guests. Zhivov doesn’t include that many renders of the interior, but what he’s made available shows a luxurious, albeit restrained, and quite homey-looking vessel.

For an extra touch of "extra-ness," the dining salon can open entirely to the elements. The roof over this section of the vessel pops open like on a cabriolet, which would offer guests the chance for al fresco dining and spectacular views of the night sky.

Drakkar S is programmable via app, sails itself
Photo: Max Zhivov
Drakkar S is named after the longship of the Viking Age. Drakkar or dreki, meaning “dragon,” was a type of ship used for raiding and plundering that stood out for its dragon-shaped bow and elegant, ornately decorated hull. They were also said to be incredibly fast, being able to travel at speeds of 10 knots under sail.

Zhivov’s Drakkar S has close to nothing in common with the longships of yore, save for (presumably) the high speed and the fact that it’s technologically advanced and, because of it, impressive. On paper, at least.
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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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