The background to Daytripper. Kjell Borking, Carin Hildebrand
As a sailor from the 60's, it is realized that there has been a tremendous change in the boating life from sailing to fast powerboats with large engines. This is a development that is contrary to what is good for the environment so we thought why not try to get more people to choose sailing instead of powerboats. One problem here is that people generally perceives sailing as dangerous but driving 45 knots in a motor boat as safe. The truth is probably the opposite
One problem with sailboats, however, is that the threshold to get started is higher than to "drive" boat. In collaboration with the desigenr Ocke Mannerfelt, (see video) we developed a new type of boat that would be; stylish, quick and easy to sail without any prior knowledge. Beginners who sail often get stuck with the boat right up into the wind eye, (look at children in a optimist dingy). To solve this and also to be able to safely get in and out of harbours we provided the boat with an electric motor, if you get stuck just turn the speed control forward. An electric motor also has environmental benefits and actually works best on a sailboat as have very little drag, a daytrip with Gel Batteries has a range of approx. 40nm. After testing the boat with beginners, we also provided the boat with a "rubber nose" so that they could drive into the jetty without damage if they missed to assess the speed when moring.
China arranged summer Olympics in 2008 with sailing competition the city of Qingdao. As we were involved in international sailing, we came to help the city arrange the competitions. When we visited the first time in 2005 there was practically no knowledge of sailing at all. We also got an insight on what it would mean if China with 1.5 billion inhabitants developed the same boat density as in Sweden If this would be powerboats boats, it would be an environmental disater. We therefore saw an opportunity to manufacture our boat in China to supply the domestic market. The boat was launched in 2010 at the boat fair in Qingdao. North and Anders Levander were responsible for the development of the sailing plane. (see video in Swedish)
We launched boats in 2011 at the boat fair “allt för Sjön” in Älvsjö. Where we got a very good reception. There is undoubtedly an environmental awareness here and you really want to see a solution to the environmental problems. The Web publication “Hamnen” made an interesting and fun reportage. See it here (In Swedish).
So far in Sweden we have sold five Daytripper and in China 43. In Sweden, buyers have mainly been experienced sailors, nice but not our intended target group. But on the positive side these buyers have really appreciated the boat. One of the buyers did also developed a innovative special brush "scrubbis" to keep the bottom of the boat clean, it is using the buoyage of the brush to push it towards the bottom to make it easy to clean. Using this and the boats do not need any bottom paint.
