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Catamaran crosses Atlantic on sun power alone
Motoring 2,700 nautical miles non-stop in just 30 days—without burning a drop of fuel
The solar-powered Sun21 departs from a Spanish port to begins its historic voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
A Swiss-made catamaran has become the first solar-powered boat to cross the Atlantic after reaching the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The Sun21 docked in Le Marin, 63 days after leaving the Spanish port of Chipiona near Cadiz.
It's the first-ever motorized vessel to complete a trans-oceanic journey without using any fuel.
The 46-foot boat largely followed the historic route sailed by explorer Christopher Columbus on the first known maritime crossing of the Atlantic in the 15th century, making its last stopover in the Canary Islands.
The specially designed catamaran covered the final 2,700-nautical-mile non-stop leg in just 30 days.
"The achievement serves as a powerful example of responsible energy in practice," said Transatlantic21 partnership, the private organization which is funding the trip, in a statement.
"It also is impressive evidence of the suitability of solar technology for high-sea voyages."
Sun21 is 46 feet long and 21.5 feet wide. It sleeps 5 to 6 persons when cruising and has room for large groups for visits or short excursions.
The arrival in Martinique on February 2, 2007, came on the same day that a hard-hitting report was released by United Nations panel of scientists about the impact of climate change. The report warned that global warming was so severe that it would continue for centuries and that humans were to blame.
Crew member Martin Vosseler said the boat was therefore aimed at sending a clear signal about the arrival of the age of solar power.
The eight person crew said the 646 square feet of solar panels fuelling Sun21 allowed them to travel up to 107 nautical miles a day.
"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," crewmember Beat von Scarpatetti said on his blog.
Sun21 is a catamaran of the MW-LINE Type C 60 and it is similar to the boats used at the Swiss National Exposition Expo 02. The boat is about 46 feet long and 21.5 feet wide. It sleeps 5 to 6 persons for the long journey across the Atlantic and has room for large groups for visits or short excursions. The galley is placed in one hull and the head in the other. A large deck roofed with photovoltaic modules has been installed between the hulls. The boat is equipped with solar modules, batteries and motors allowing a constant speed of 5-6 knots 24 hours a day, equivalent to the average speed of sailing yachts.
The catamaran was sent on its way in Basel by current Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey last year, before leaving Chipiona on December 3.
Sun21 now has covered about half of its journey. It will next head to New York via several Caribbean islands and Miami, aiming to dock in Manhattan in May. The team has chosen New York as its final destination because it is where United Nations has its headquarters.
Swiss are also involved in several other solar-based projects. One project aims to make a round-the-world trip in a boat fuelled by both solar power and hydrogen. Renowned balloon pilot and psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard is planning to fly around the world in a solar-powered aircraft.