Solar Catamaran crossed the Atlantic

transatlantic21.org ^ | February 2, 2007

[HAL9000]

Basel, Switzerland, February 2, 2007 – Today “sun21”, the solar powered catamaran developed and sponsored by the Swiss Transatlantic21 Association, arrived in the harbour of Le Marin, Martinique.

The arrival at 3 pm local time is an historic feat and makes “sun21” the first motorized vessel to cross the Atlantic without using a drop of fuel. The achievement serves as a powerful example of responsible energy use in practice. It also is impressive evidence of the suitability of solar technology for high-sea voyages. “sun21” will travel on with its final destination being New York this May.

The arrival in Martinique coincides with the alarming publication of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fourth assessment report "Climate Change 2007," which asserts climate change is “very likely” man-made. The ship is thus, in the words of crew member Martin Vosseler, "sending a clear signal about the arrival of the age of solar power”.

On October 16, 2006, "sun21" was christened at the Rhine harbour of Basel (Switzerland) by current Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey. The solar-powered catamaran left continental Europe on December 3, 2006 from Chipiona Spain. Following Christopher Columbus’ historic route, it subsequently covered around 3,500 nautical miles (6,400 kilometers) to the island of Martinique. The crossing to the Caribbean took 63 days, including stop-overs in Casablanca (Morocco) and on the Canary Islands. “sun21” covered the roughly 5,000 kilometres from Las Palmas to Martinique in a mere 30 days.

Ideal weather conditions allowed "sun21" to travel up to 107 nautical miles a day, as much as sailing boats of a similar size would do. On days of complete calm the solar boat travelled up to 83 nautical miles (or 150 kilometers). Even with covered skies, the solar panels on the vessel’s rooftop provided enough energy to almost keep the boat's batteries fully charged. The technology also provided other advantages: "Propulsion is quiet and easy on the environment. There's hardly any vibration, the solar panels provide us with shade and, unlike a sailing boat, we make good headway even when there's no wind," writes crewmember Beat von Scarpatetti in his blog on www.transatlantic21.org.

Half of the 7,000+ nautical miles from Seville to New York have now been covered. The next ports of call will be the Caribbean islands of Dominica, Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe and St. Martin, and then Miami, USA.

[dirtboy]

Ideal weather conditions allowed "sun21" to travel up to 107 nautical miles a day, as much as sailing boats of a similar size would do

So why not just use friggin' sails?

[GSlob]

"So why not just use friggin' sails?"
And what do you think was that large solar panel on an overcast day, if not a sail?

[Ken522]

Because sails interfere with the movement of air about the earth, indirectly causing the earth to slow down it's rotational speed and increase global warming - you'll find it all in ! /s-snicker

[Ken522]

Because sails interfere with the movement of air about the earth, indirectly causing the earth to slow down it's rotational speed and increase global warming - you'll find it all in A Inconvenient Truth! /s-snicker

[Ramius]

Hmmm... my math says this works out to be about 6.9Km/Hr, or about 3.7 Knots.

About walking speed.

[Ramius]

...or... about .0056Mach

[HAL9000]

The article claims - "Even with covered skies, the solar panels on the vessel’s rooftop provided enough energy to almost keep the boat's batteries fully charged."

It's science. And now they'll spend a nice weekend on the beach in Martinique, drinking rhum vieux.

[Issaquahking]

Put albore on that thing! Will keep him busy for a day or two! Hypocrite has a private jet, and how many Limo's and Suv's at his disposal? Typical dhimmicrat.

[ikka]

Ideal weather conditions allowed "sun21" to travel up to 107 nautical miles a day

the boat is 14m, or over 42ft, long. A catamaran of that size, equipped with sails, would be capable of moving at speeds up to 240 nautical miles per day.

[GAB-1955]

"So why not just use friggin' sails?"

Because you don't need the crew to set and reset the sails to tack and wear. You can steer a more direct course. Fewer crew means more savings in shipping costs.

[GAB-1955]

"So why not just use friggin' sails?"

What do you think this is, the Good Ship Venus?

[RightWhale]

Do both. Cover the sail with flexible solar panels. No more becalmed under the burning sun with skin turning to cracked, bleeding leather. Could Coleridge make poetry out of that?

[HAL9000]

At least they don't have to worry about getting stuck in irons. But how far could it travel just drifting along in the Atlantic trade currents?

The company that manufactured the boat has some interesting solar-powered models, like this Aquabus 1050 -

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

A guy in a reed boat crossed the Pacific (Hugenthal?).

[Tax-chick]

Heyerdahl.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Appreciated.

[Tax-chick]

You're welcome.

I was expecting the headline to be, "Solar Catamaran Crosses the Galaxy," or something good like that!

[SunkenCiv]

Why not a pen that writes in zero gravity, instead of a pencil? ;') Because "[t]he achievement serves as a powerful example of responsible energy use in practice." I wonder how much fun a glorified pontoon boat ride across the Atlantic would be?