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When I first joined the AYRS I was amazed at the wealth of information freely available on Yacht design.  I found the members to friendly and helpful and was pleased to have at last found an organisation which encourages those interested in yacht design, to get involved at all levels.  

You don't have to be a professional designer or builder.  DIY enthusiasts are just as much welcome to join in the fun.  It is, however, a fact that AYRS members have over the years contributed to the development of: the winged keel, multi-hull design, self-steering gear, hydrofoils and much more.  Speed, efficiency and alternative propulsion systems are also high on the agenda, which is where I came in.

For some time now, I have been developing the Solar Navigator project as a means to evaluate the potential for renewable energy to replace fossil fuels before a crisis point is reached.  I  believes that the project target - a world circumnavigation - will provide a unique opportunity to collect data for scientific evaluation.  The project will focus attention on natural sunlight and other renewable resources as a practical alternative to reliance on fossil reserves.  As scientists predict worsening global weather shifts, pollution and warming continues, Nelson believes that research in this field is important conservation work for our ecology. 

 

Nelson Kruschandl - designer

 

Nelson is an enthusiastic amateur yacht designer, a member of the Amateur Yacht Research Society, the Royal Yachting Association and the Speed Record Club.  The Solar Navigator project began with a series of hull-form evaluations in small scale, with the size gradually creeping from 1/50th to 1/10th and back to 1/20th.  The idea for a solar powered ocean cruiser was conceived in 1993.  The Solarnavigator project is the culmination of years of practical experiment.  The first of a series of development models went on display at the 1995 Earls Court Boat Show.  Nelson is a member of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), an organisation dedicated to the use of alternative energy and a keen amateur archaelogist.  

 

Nelson attended Ratton Secondary School in the 1970's where the first signs of his flair for research was in the form of a 5th Form Physics Prize.  A keen sports-man, Nelson keeps fit by jogging, climbing and occasionally diving.  He has been building vehicles at his workshops in Sussex for the past 22 years.  In 1992 he was granted patent No.2218187 for a joystick car named the Borzoi.  In 1995 he was granted patent No.2253379 for an electric vehicle refueling system, subsequently successfully incorporated in a converted Rover Metro

 

 


 

Membership of the AYRS is open to anyone interested in yacht research & development. The AYRS is a registered Educational Charity (No 234081).  Registered office: 9 Lynton Road, Thorpe Bay, Essex, SS1 3BE

BCM AYRS, London, WC1N 3XX, UK.

Patron:   HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

 


 

About AYRS    

Catalyst - Journal of the AYRS

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AYRS publications provide a wealth of information to all those interested in yachting design and experimentation.  There are more than 120 publications dealing with almost every aspect of yachting:  
AYRS' Index AYRS Publications

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This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2005  NJK.   The bird logo and name Solar Navigator are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.       Max Energy Limited is an environmental educational charity.

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