WORLD SOLAR NAVIGATION CHALLENGE

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"Only those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, will!"  -  Henry Dunant

In May of 2012, the Turanor PlanetSolar set a world navigation speed of 584 days, using only energy harvested from nature. In 2019 the Cleaner Ocean Foundation completed a study that suggests a more efficient boat could cut that record in half.

Though the technology is similar, several designs use quite different approaches to make it all the more interesting.  For example in 1994 the Solar Navigator started out as a SWATH design, first exhibited at Earls Court in 1995.  Since that time various wave piercing models have been developed and tested, the aim being to improve performance and reduce build costs. One day it may be possible to travel around the world on solar power, in under 80 days - but not yet.  Jules Verne would have loved this.

CLIMATE CHANGER - The above table illustrates one of the most likely ocean awareness expedition routes, known as the 'Sunshine Route,' showing the time elapsed in days for 7 knots average cruising speed, including times for 5 and 6 knot averages - allowing for 10% downtime and 36 days in ports. Hence, although the objective is to reduce the current solar circumnavigation record from 584 days, the event in not an outright non-stop yacht competition in the offshore racing sense. It remains to be seen how accurate such a prediction might be. In this table we only allowed 36 days for provisioning and PR but added a 10% contingency for servicing, that could be used for additional time in ports. As a Climate Changing event, performance is one of the main criteria, especially concerning the possibilities for a transition to low carbon shipping and the contribution this might make in combating global warming.

PlanetSolar - ROUTE and EXPEDITION

Raphaël Domjan - Project's Founder and future Co-Navigator

Patrick Schoetker - Team Medical Doctor, Anesthesiologist FMH

PlanetSolar - SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT

Richard Mesple - Engineer, HES, Project Manager

Marc Wüst - Builder and Naval Designer

Pascal Goulpié - Scientific Coordinator
Philippe Lechaire - Technical Adviser, Engineer-Physicist

Jean-François Affolter - Technical Adviser, Engineer M. ENG

PlanetSolat - ADMINISTRATION and MARKETING

Stefan Nowak - Strategy and Partnerships
Paola Ghillani - Sustainable Economy and Marketing

Frédéric Rein - Media and Communication, Journalist

Alexis Domjan - Webmaster and Graphics

PlanetSolar - SPONSORSHIP STEERING COMMITTEE

Jean-Louis Aucouturier  - Founder of the Electric Boats of France AFBE

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede - Navigator and Record Holder

Jean Verne  - Great-Grandson of the writer, Jules Verne

Fernand Cuche - Conseiller d'Etat neuchâtelois, Vert

If you would like to learn more about either of these projects, please use the contact information 

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