education & business 11


From surfboards to supertankers – and a revolutionary new cat


As The Business Magazine went to press, a revolutionary new boat – the brainchild of Southampton Solent University graduate and senior lecturer in naval architecture, Ron Price – was due to make its world debut at this year’s Southampton Boat Show, writes Alison Dewar


Designed and built using state-of-the- art facilities at both the university and the Warsash Maritime Academy, Solent Whisper is being described as a “game- changing new foiling catamaran“.


With its cutting-edge hydrofoil system and successful sea trials completed, the boat has already gained the attention of the America’s Cup teams and other world-class sailors, who are impressed by its stability, speed and easy sailing style. A projected price tag of less than £20,000 means it has the potential to offer elite racing to the masses and plans are already afoot with the intention of having a production version available for the London Boat Show in January.


Ron Price spent seven years in the armed forces before studying for a degree in yacht production and design at Solent, going on to pursue a career in marine engineering, and then returning to academia, first as a lecturer at the university, before moving to the maritime academy.


The Solent Whisper’s launch is the culmination of months of part-time hard labour, made possible by the superb facilities and support team which he had to hand.


“I was very fortunate to have such an amazing resource in the shape of the incredible skill and depth of knowledge of the engineering technicians and the support of the outstanding staff, both at Warsash and the university. Had it not been for them, I probably wouldn’t have been where I am now,“ said Price.


“I believe the skills we have here make us world leaders in the maritime field. As someone who has been involved in the industry for over 16 years, I know that the university is incredibly well regarded.


“One day we can be teaching the captains of supertankers and superyachts, the next we can be studying the composition of carbon fibre surfboards, which shows the range of our expertise.


“Solent has a reputation for being at the forefront of technology and, if you look around the marine sector, many of the movers and shakers who are designing, developing and producing yacht projects have links with the university. It makes me very proud to be part of it.“


One of the most important elements is the university’s ability to ensure that students have real-time access to the latest equipment and facilities, such as composites laboratories and 3D printing facilities that allow them to print out new designs and, within 24/48 hours, carry out testing in tow tanks and on the sea.


Professor John Chudley, dean of the maritime and technology faculty, says it is exactly that combination of practical and academic experience and knowledge which makes Solent such an exciting place to study.


“One of our key strengths is our ability to produce graduates who are employable and work ready,“ he said. “Our research is very applied and very real, students learn in the classroom but as much as possible they have open access to the facilities, taking on live design briefs and undertaking practical trials, which is a big difference to how some universities operate.“


In addition to the facilities offered to students, the university is keen to strengthen its ties with the south coast’s wider maritime industry.


“The boat show provides a wonderful opportunity for us to present our own very broad portfolio, not just as a place to study, but also to promote our outstanding research resources,“ he continued.


“We are always keen to engage with businesses who are looking for knowledge transfer


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2014 www.businessmag.co.uk


partnerships and, while we are very proud of Ron’s success, we also welcome the chance to spread the word about what we can offer.“


Every year, more than 1,000 students study maritime-related degrees at Solent; ranging from more traditional courses such as yacht production and powercraft design, to programmes catering for the burgeoning cruise management industry, which is attracting a great deal of interest from potential partnership universities in Malaysia and China.


Past graduates have gone on to help shape the world of sailing, among them Jason Ker, now part of the design team working on Sir Ben Ainslie’s GB America’s Cup bid; Guillame Verdier, designer of the two yachts that came first and second in last year’s Vendee Globe; as well as sailing superstars Paul Goodison, who won gold at the 2008 Olympics and Helena Lucas, who took gold at the 2012 Paralympics.


At Warsash, where a further 10,000 plus students go through its doors every year, the focus is more on the commercial side of the maritime business world, providing education, training and short courses for those working on large ships and the wider offshore and renewables sector, while its superyacht academy provides certification training at all levels for those working in the booming superyacht industry.


Details: www.solent.ac.uk


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