Galateia
30m Sailing Yacht | Green Marine
A high-performance 30m racer equipped with a fully automated four-tank water ballast system, built for split-second transfer and total structural precision.
The Brief
Galateia’s design team needed to turn a concept for a water ballast system into a working installation: four tank volumes, two per side, with fully automated pick-up, transfer and discharge, integrated into the yacht’s existing general arrangement. BMComposites was also asked to manufacture and install a new sliding foredeck hatch and sail take-down system.
The Approach
Working alongside Pure Design & Engineering and Diverse, BMComposites completed the final design layout for the entire ballast system. Every composite component was produced at the company’s own facility, using 3D scanning, 3D printing and CAD/CAM CNC manufacturing to achieve ultra-lightweight carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts.
The system called for particular attention to the scoop intake, which fills the tank volumes through a controlled master pump and distributes water as needed for the boat’s trim. At the right moment, several tonnes of water need to transfer to the opposite tank in around five seconds, a process that can place significant load on the surrounding structure if not engineered and installed with precision.
The Result
BMComposites worked closely with the captain, designers, engineers and subcontractors to manage the project from initial briefing through installation and final commissioning. Galateia went on to take first place at the 2023 PalmaVela.
Begin Your Project
From refit to bespoke composite structures, our project management team is ready to talk through what’s next.