Tykun X H1, the next step in sustainable day tendering

After the launch of Tykun XWith its fully custom aluminum tender, Gruppo Med has unveiled the technological heart of its hydrogen project applied to its new platform. This is how Tykun H1 was born, a fuel cell version of the Tykun X, designed for owners and professionals seeking clean, silent, and reliable electric propulsion without sacrificing speed and range. The model is already fully engineered and ready for production.

At 12 meters long, the Tykun H1 is the result of the joint efforts of the Med Group and the Tesya Group, which developed the hydrogen propulsion system for the chase boats in the last America's Cup. This is a direct transfer of know-how from the world of racing to the world of advanced production yachting. The result is a vessel that can cruise in electric mode at up to 35 knots, with a total range of up to 60 nautical miles, enough to cover a full day of real-world use. Tykun H1 is effectively an electric boat. The motors are powered by a battery pack, while a single hydrogen fuel cell acts as a range extender, constantly recharging the batteries during navigation. It also features a dockside power connection, allowing the vessel to be used as a high-performance electric tender even in the absence of dedicated hydrogen infrastructure.

"The Tykun H1 project was born from a key challenge: creating a hydrogen tender that could be truly used and managed by a single owner," explains Ugo Casadio, technical director of the Med Group. "The goal was to transform the America's Cup experience into a boat accessible to a wider audience." The basic specifications were clear: ease of management, all-day autonomy, a top speed of up to 35 knots and a cruising speed of around 20 knots, without sacrificing the style and customization typical of the Tykun range. The Tesya Group's contribution was crucial in simplifying the system. "The America's Cup hydrogen foiling boats required extreme performance," explains Vittorio Maccone, Sales Engineer at Tesya. "From that experience, we gained data and expertise to redesign the system, making it much more user-friendly. With the Med Group, the goal was clear: a hydrogen boat that could be used by everyone."

Four tanks are installed on board, each holding approximately 32 kg of hydrogen at a maximum pressure of 350 bar. The gas powers the fuel cell, which converts it into electricity, generating only pure water. "It's like having an electric boat with the charger always plugged in," Maccone emphasizes. "This way, we overcome the typical limitations of electric boats, especially range and charging time, because refueling takes less than three minutes."

Safety has been a key concern since the early stages of the project. All components are certified according to marine standards approved by recognized classification societies. The tanks are located in areas with natural and forced ventilation to ensure consistently controlled operating conditions. NatPower H, a strategic partner for hydrogen refueling in selected ports and marinas, including with mobile solutions, is supporting operations. "We are building a global infrastructure network, with 40 refueling points already operational," explains Marco Vassallo of NatPower H, citing operations already underway in Monaco, France, Italy, and the main Italian lakes. The integration of the hydrogen system was also carefully considered in terms of design and style. The Med team, together with architect Tommaso Spadolini, worked to make the hydrogen nearly invisible. "In addition to the ventilated spaces for the tanks, we included dedicated compartments for batteries and fuel cells, while maintaining the bow stowage. Our aim was to create a layout in which the hydrogen would be virtually invisible. We retained the distinctive features of the Tykun range, raising the deck by just 10 centimeters and integrating the ventilation vents into the T-top uprights."

Aluminum remains a key element, allowing for extensive customization of layout and equipment, both as a superyacht tender and as a high-end independent dayboat. The Tykun H1 is ready for construction, with an estimated lead time of 8 to 10 months for the first unit. Once fully operational, deliveries will vary between 6 and 8 months depending on the level of customization required.

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