With countless miles under his keel and a thirst for adventure, Hallberg-Rassy owner Richard Sharp is no stranger to the demands of long-distance sailing. This January he'll be setting out on an extraordinary voyage as part of the World ARC rally from St. Lucia. His vessel, Walrus, is a Hallberg-Rassy 39 MK II measuring 12.22 metres and the "baby" of the fleet, making the cut by a mere 2cm. She will be more than prepared, not only with extensive provisioning and forward planning, but with a number of powerful pieces of equipment onboard, notably the Remoran hydrogenerator; a reliable partner in sustainable power.
Summer Test Run
Before tackling the Atlantic, Richard put the Remoran hydrogenerator through its paces this past summer, sailing from Ramsgate down through France, Portugal and Spain. His first impressions of the unit? "At anything above 5 knots, the Remoran was excellent," he recalls. "Once we hit our stride, it felt like we had an endless supply of energy." This meant he could spend less time worrying about recharging and more time fully engaged with each destination and leg of the journey.
Richard emphasised that the Remoran started to operate efficiently when Walrus reached a minimum speed of 5 knots upwards, requiring true wind speeds of 8+ knots, and this combination created the best performance from the hydrogenerator. The great news is it provided enough power to keep his fridge, autohelm, watermaker and even Starlink running - all without the need for engine charging.
The Technical Backbone
For those unfamiliar, the Remoran is a hydrogenerator built with efficiency, simplicity and ease of use in mind. When towed behind a boat, it transforms water flow into electrical energy, ideal for long voyages where fuel and charging opportunities may be limited. Richard's integration of the Remoran with his solar panels and wind generator created a smooth blend of renewable energy sources. As he put it, "It was rare we needed to use the engine to charge much at all - the combination of solar, wind, and the hydrogenerator, gave us more power than we needed."
Richard credits his decision to purchase the Remoran to an insightful presentation by Rob Cotterill from Advance Yacht Systems earlier in the year. Rob recommended conducting a power audit, which inspired Richard to perform a detailed assessment of his onboard energy needs. The results were then instrumental in helping him understand how purchasing a hydrogenerator would enhance his sailing experience and power supply.
Richard notes that the parasailor he uses flies high and feeds air down through the sail, which in turn generates lift that slightly raises the bow of Walrus, improving both stability and speed. Controlled easily from the cockpit, this is a great choice for short-handed crews, and its performance directly aids the efficiency of the Remoran. Making it an even more versatile addition to onboard systems, the hydrogenerator still works efficiently at night.
Crossing with Confidence
Participating in the ARC demands a reliable power solution, especially when each day at sea brings new variables - from unanticipated weather to unique routing challenges. Whilst joining other sailors navigating the Atlantic's blue expanse, thanks to the Remoran hydrogenerator, Richard can expect steady power for the entire crossing. "It's comforting to know that even hundreds of miles from land, I have a solution that doesn't depend on finite fuel or daily sunshine," he says. The Remoran's easy deployment and retrieval are also perfect for this trip; if Richard needs to change course or adjust, he can simply stow it and redeploy it as needed.
Unplugged Freedom
One of Richard's favourite parts of his new power setup is the sense of independence it affords. "There's something wonderful about unplugging from the engine," he laughs, recounting how the Remoran allows him to skip the traditional routines of monitoring fuel and energy levels. He has even replaced all his lightbulbs with LEDs, which makes a big difference in power expenditure.
Richard is mindful of his fuel consumption, carrying 450 litres onboard, he understands the importance of disciplined management. The decision to forgo a diesel generator was a conscious one; wanting to avoid the modifications that such a system would require on his Hallberg-Rassy and, more importantly, the potential impact on marine life. Instead, he has embraced the green efficiencies offered by Remoran and other renewable sources. The plan is to use the watermaker and engine minimally, perhaps every three days, whilst being mindful of Starlink's power drain, so this won't be left on 24/7. Richard cites his Mastervolt monitor as a handy companion, providing real-time insights into the electricity generated, and reassuring him with a clear indication of positive energy flow to the battery. This has meant he can sail Walrus with confidence, knowing he has a proven sustainable power solution at his fingertips.
New Adventures
Richard's upcoming journey with the World ARC promises a fresh wave of experiences, all made possible by the confidence he has in his boat's setup. "With the Remoran, I can genuinely feel like a part of my environment - using the water itself to generate power just adds a deeper level to the adventure." He is particularly looking forward to the incredible wildlife in the Galapagos and taking in new horizons around Australia.
As the countdown begins for their World ARC departure, we wish Richard and all his crew fair winds and calm seas. At Advance Yacht Systems we are confident that with the Remoran hydrogenerator, Walrus is well-equipped to tackle whatever lies ahead.
Update, March 2026: An Ocean Later
Richard has been back in touch from his cruise on Walrus, fifteen months out from departure. The power audit he ran before setting off has held up, in his words:
"Before setting out about 15 months ago now, I did a formal power audit. I worked out that the arrangement I had then — solar panels on a gantry above the transom, and a wind generator — were not adequate to supply everything without using the engine a great deal... I reckoned that with a hydro-generator we could keep everything going. The big consumers are of course the fridge, the autohelm, Starlink and the watermaker."
"Fortunately, I was right. I have found that with a decent blow, a sunny day and a reasonable boat speed 5.5–6 knots the three 'passive' systems supply everything. On a number of occasions now we have sailed for 3 days + without using the engine to top up the batteries."
Richard also passes on two practical notes for anyone planning a similar fit. Bracket position on a sugar-scoop transom needs careful thought before drilling — placement makes the difference to a clean retrofit. And the unit is one more thing to remember when reversing into a berth: "On one occasion we only just remembered in time."
The monitoring side has earned its place too: "An excellent feature of the Remoran is its App. Using my phone I can see immediately what it is producing."