Mysterious Black Stealth Ship Prowls San Francisco Bay, A Harbinger Of Yachting’s Future

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Yachts are supposed to be white, so when a

dark, angular, $33 million stealth ship pulls up at a local marina next

to a bunch of fiberglass pleasure boats that haven’t changed basic

designs in 50 years, heads turn, cameraphones are raised, and questions

are asked.  Answers, however, are not given.

This week, what is believed to be the “Galeocerdo” was anchored off

Sausalito.  The Cayman Islands flagged super yacht is described by Super Yacht Times  as a 118-foot, 17,000+ horsepower, 70 mile per hour jetboat tested in

the Ferrari wind tunnel and built to do unbelievable things on the water

by boat builder WallyPower for the Kondakji family, according to

several blogs.

It’s the only one built yet in a class called the Wally 118,

and the builder calls it the most distinctive and fastest motor yacht

in the world.   If you didn’t know any better, you might think it’s the

villain’s vessel in James Bond’s “Tomorrow Never Dies.” http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/vehicles/stealth-ship

While it’s hard to find out much more about this ship, what anyone

watching the water will tell you is more and more innovative ships like

this are going to start pulling up next to white chunky Grand Banks

cabin cruisers.

Part of it is military design, with builders expecting spinoff sales to private customers.

Juliet Marine Systems GHOST ship is being tested for the military,

but the company proudly announces commercial models will be available,

built to your specs.  At this market level, it better be built to users

specs!

Juliet Marine won’t say exactly how fast it goes, just “extremely

fast,” and if looks are any indication of speed potential, we’re

inclined to take them on their word.

The designs have a few things in common:  Angular hulls, which both

deflect radar for the military, and deflect waves for a smooth ride.

Some of these vessels-unfortunately, not the Galeocerdo-are even more

advanced, riding ABOVE the water, instead of pushing their way through

it.  The GHOST ship, and many other military concept ships are designed

to rise up out of the water.

The GHOST uses two long, slender tubes under the water (think

torpedoes) to power the ship and provide buoyancy, while the hull itself

raises well out of the water.

Another design, the M80 Stiletto being tested now rides up on a

cushion of air, lifting it out of the water, without using any complex

structures under the surface.  

Older designs have been in use since the 1970s, using hydrofoils to

fly above the water, on small wings under the water that raise the

hull. 

All these forms dramatically reduce drag on the boat, increasing speed and efficiency.

Sound familiar?

The Bay Area is getting used to things like this.  The America’s Cup

showed the world the power of a hydrofoil.  While we witnessed nautical

history firsthand with the futuristic sailing vessels, we just haven’t

seen the powerboat versions yet.  Get ready, more will be coming in the

next decade.

Another advantage to these besides the speed of “flying” above the

water is their stability.  As the waves don’t pound the hull, the ships

don’t bounce around, creating an incredibly stable ride for wealthy,

seasickness-prone landlubbers, or for firing weapons at the enemy.

Other radar-invisible ships of far larger size are being seen around

the world. Here’s a “Stealth Ship” in San Diego Harbor captured on

Twitter, but again, this ship is traditional in that it has no

hydrofoils to lift it out of the seas. 

Stealth ship docked at San Diego harbor pic.twitter.com/lCVzGMUH1C