Electric Propulsion Systems

World’s First Electric-Boat Regatta Taking Place in Venice

Competitors from all over Europe are participating in the first-ever event.

After a year-and-a-half of preparation, the world’s first e-Regatta started today at the Venice Arsenale as part of the Venice Boat Show. The regatta will run over three days including a variety of events intended to show off the benefits of electric boats including low noise, emissions and wakes.

International Fleet

Originally scheduled to take place a year ago, the e-Regatta was postponed and then cancelled because of the pandemic. Boat manufactures from North America, northern Europe and the United Kingdom either couldn’t attend this year’s event, but 21 teams from Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Slovenia are planning to compete. Local Venice transport company Laguna has also entered a variety of electrified work boats, barges and traditional Venetian watercraft. Following is the complete list:

  • Anvera e-Lab (Emilia-Romagna, Italy)
  • AS Labruna (Puglia, Italy)
  • Bellmarine / Transfluid electric motors powering Alumax Boats (Netherlands)
  • Cantiere Archetti (Venice)
  • Cantiere Ernesto Riva (Lake Como, Italy))
  • Cantiere Motonautico Veneziano (Venice)
  • Cantiere Nautico Erio Matteri (Lake Como)
  • Cantiere Nautico Studioplast (Venice)
  • Cantiere San Pietro di Castello (Venice)
  • Classic Boats Venice– powered by Torqeedo electric motors (Germany)
  • e-Dyn electric motors (Slovenia)
  • Greenline Yachts (Slovenia)
  • Hovercraft inflatable e-boats (Slovenia)
  • Mondino Nautica (Venice)
  • Vita Yachts (Italy/UK)

Vita Yachts is a team with origins in Italy and the United Kingdom.

Event Details

There are three major classes determined by length (under 4 meters, 4-9 meters and over 9 meters with subcategories by energy source — battery/hybrid/solar.

Yesterday, the e-Regatta kicked off with an evening procession in the San Marco Basin of the Venice Arsenale, where the boats are docked in the E-Village of the Venice Boat Show. The boats will depart the basin and proceed along the Grand Canal with all the participants flying national flags.

On Day Two, the Slalom and e-Ballerina competition will take place at the Arsenale Dock. The slalom competition takes place on a gated course while the e-Ballerina is similar to a figure-skating challenge in which boats will be judged based on their ability to maneuver to the rhythm of music. The day will conclude with a sprint race from the canal Santo Spirito to San Clemente island. The Anvera e-Labs boat is planning to challenge the world speed record for electric boats.

 

The competition will take place within view of spectators attending the Venice Boat Show.

Finally, the third day will feature a two-hour endurance race that begins with a LeMans-style start. The winner will be the boat that accumulates the highest points total for the combined events. The Venice Boat Show Cup will be presented later that day.