Achieving the strategic aim of an all-electric RIB event support fleet on Italy's Lake Garda by 2024 is a step closer thanks to RS Electric Boats and Milan-based Negrinautica, one of the largest watersports distributors in Europe. 

Working with an Italian consortium of tourism specialists, mayors of local regions, presidents of communities, and councillors for tourism, and sport, as well as pertinent sailing clubs - all of whom are actively working towards preserving the natural, stunning beauty of the area and the sailing on offer - Negrinautica set up a key stakeholders’ conference and invited RS Electric Boats to showcase its Pulse 63 

"Negrinautica got everyone together to discuss their aims," says Alex Newton-Southon, CEO - Technical RS Marine Group, "and then we gave a presentation on the Pulse, what it stands for and what it can do. Then we took the stakeholders out to experience it. We've been asked to loan the area one for the summer. We will. This will then underpin their confidence that the Pulse 63 is reliable and it is what they think it is."   

Newton-Southon says that although the strategy is being led by the north part of the lake, in reality it is likely to be adopted throughout. "I imagine they'll want to replace all like for like boats in the area," he says. "The Italians currently allow up to 40hp on the lake - and there's a mixture of everything, as sailing schools, clubs, event organisers and police look to replace their current RIBs. The consortium was really engaged to see the future of electric boats.  

"I've spent many years sailing in Lake Garda and to me it’s the best place in the world. To be able to support it with like-minded people with RS Electric is really powerful."  

"Motorised navigation has been prohibited in the waters of Garda Trentino since the 1980s and electric mobility is certainly a direction to take: the world of regattas itself is moving in this direction," says Pietro Negri, owner of Negrinautica.  

He says the Pulse 63 was chosen to be showcased as "The electric transmission of the engine guarantees instant acceleration, control sensitivity and hydrodynamic performance on the water. Its simplicity generates low noise, low vibration, low weight and minimum maintenance."