Among other things, to make for smooth and stable cruising (we all know Bondian supervillains
hate shaken martinis), the Shuttleworth team developed a new shape for the boat's outriggers -- the flying-buttress-like supports on either side of the main hull. It also increased their height.
The craft is what's called a "
trimaran," with its main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls. As futuristic as the Adastra looks, the trimaran approach very probably dates back to ancient times and the "
proa" built by Pacific islanders.
Here we see the Adastra on China's Pearl River, where it was launched last week.