Tyde and BMW announce second electric foiling yacht

German boatbuilder Tyde has partnered with BMW on The Open, a 15-metre foiling luxury day yacht powered by electric propulsion.

It’s the second collaboration between Tyde and the German motor giant BMW, following The Icon, a battery-powered maritime vehicle with hydrofoils adapted from sailing racing, to significantly reduce energy consumption.

The Icon picked up the “Wallpaper Smart Space Award” and the “Boat Builder Award” for its innovative concept.

Tyde and BMW says The Open concept is specifically geared towards the needs of private users who are interested in innovative and sustainable luxury products.

“With The Icon, we have shown how elegant and luxurious sustainable mobility on the water can be,” says Christoph Ballin, co-founder and managing director of Tyde. “The continuation of the cooperation with BMW is now fuelling the launch into another segment. The new model brings future-orientated mobility to the day yacht segment.”

Ballin, a serial founder at firms including Torqeedo and Sea.AI, is giving a keynote on marine propulsion on 21 January 2024 at the Blue Innovation Dock during boot Düsseldorf 2024.

“Our aim is to use pioneering design and intelligent technology transfer from the automotive sector to provide additional impetus for the BMW-typical joy of sustainable mobility,” adds Stefan Ponikva, vice president of brand communication and brand experience at BMW.

While Tyde is responsible for the concept, development, production and marketing of the project, BMW is contributing components and expertise from the field of electromobility. The design once again comes from the creative studio of the BMW Group subsidiary Designworks.

At a length of just under 15 metres, Tyde and BMW say The Open offers all the amenities of a luxury day yacht without any emissions during operation. The foiling technology, in which the vehicle rests on hydrofoils below the water level while the hull floats above the water surface, not only saves almost 80 per cent energy but also allows passengers to float extremely smoothly, even in swell.

Apart from the hydrofoils, the interior of the classic-looking yacht is as bright and luxurious, with natural light entering from above and from the sides.

Orders on The Open have now begun, with first deliveries in autumn 2024.