Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Largest solar yacht in the world arrives Australia

by Des Ryan on 27 May 2011
Turanor-PlanetSolar SW
There'll be some surprised faces at Rivergate Marina in Brisbane on Sunday next, as the largest solar yacht in the world, Planet Solar arrives Brisbane, having crossed its second ocean, the Pacific. Originally intended to stop in Sydney, the arrival city has been changed and nobody is saying why.

The vessel, which has been compared to the Starship enterprise from the Star Trek Trilogy saga, is 31 metres long, 15 metres wide and stands an impressive 6.1 metres high. The yacht also has a solar surface of over 537 square metres with 38,000 solar cells.

It can reach speeds of around 13 knots, but maintains a much lower average - around 7.5 knots. At that speed it should take about 160 days to travel around the planet.

It has already made the fastest crossing of the Atlantic for a solar powered boat, and has made the longest distance of any solar electric vehicle.

The multihull is home to four sailors during the round-the-world attempt, and can accommodate up to forty people during the promotional trips planned at each port of call.

Two dedicated sailors lead the team. First, there's Swiss National and President of the Solar Planet Foundation, Raphael Domjan who is a co-founder of the project, and French National and Ship's Master, Patrick Marchesseau, an experienced professional sailor. His long experience includes being Captain of Le Ponant, the yacht that was hijacked and held for a week in 2008.

At the age of 37, founder Raphaël Domjan conceived the PlanetSolar concept, and he has done everything possible since to turn his dream into reality. Someone who genuinely 'dabbles in everything', Raphaël Domjan wears several hats and increases activities he takes part in that are closely connected to man and nature: an ambulance driver, high mountain guide, rescue specialist in perilous environments etc.

He says that it is Passion that drives him on, and that passion has this time succeeded in getting the project off the ground.

While the PlanetSolar project is an extraordinary technological and human challenge, it is also an expression of the world-view of Raphaël Domjan and of the team he has built around him:

That our planet deserves a better, brighter and less polluted future. Future technologies must be keenly investigated and solutions must be found. The project will help to motivate engineers and scientists to develop innovative technologies, inspire people around the world, and show that the impossible can become possible.

About Planet Solar:

The vessel itself, PlanetSolar, is a multlihull vessel topped by a large array of photovoltaic solar panels, constructed by Knierim Yacht Club, in Kiel, Germany. Additional removable parts allow it to expose a total of 537 m2 of photovoltaic surface (solar panels) to the sun.

This impressive data make it the biggest solar run ship in the world.
Built in 14 months, the boat has impressive dimensions and is yet both silent and clean. Its goal of circumnavigating the world at an average speed of 7.5 knots is no mean feat for a solar-powered craft.

Length: 31 m
Width: 15 m
Length with flaps: 35 m
Width with flaps: 23 m
Height: 6.1 m
Weight: 95 t
Surface of solar modules: 537 m2
PV panel efficiency: 18.8 %
PV installed power: 93.5 kW (127.0 HP)
Average engine consumption: 20 kW (26.8 HP)
Average speed: 7.5 kt (14 km/h)
Maximum speed: 14 kt (25 km/h)
Crew: 6 people
People that can go onboard: 40
Autonomy: Never-ending solar navigation

The boat’s top covered with the photovoltaic solar panels gives it a capacity of 93.5 kilowatts of electricity. It cost about $13 million to construct and was funded by Rivendell Holding AG, a Swiss company renewable energy investment company.

Subject to change, stopovers will take place at the following cities: Miami, Cancun, San Francisco, Brisbane (changed from Sydney), Singapore, and Abu Dhabi:

Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERB&G Zeus SR AUSJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

Related Articles

Vaikobi Launches New Board Short Collection
With a buy second pair half price deal Vaikobi, a leader in high-performance ocean sports apparel, is proud to introduce its latest collection of men's boardshorts: the Newport Boardies and Paddle Boardies. Designed for comfort, sports versatility and hydrodynamic efficiency.
Posted on 3 Apr
Transat Paprec skippers under the microscope
Favorites, outsiders, newbies… In 12 days' time, the iconic 100% mixed transatlantic race between Concarneau and Saint-Barthélemy, Transat Paprec, will get under way.
Posted on 3 Apr
J/70 Corinthian Europeans in Cascais day 1
54 teams participating in this new continental format The International J/70 Class Association continues to grow and evolve, debuting the Corinthian European Championship this year in Cascais Portugal.
Posted on 3 Apr
Return of the Fremantle to Albany Yacht Race
In one year's time the event will return The Royal Perth Yacht Club is proud to announce the return of the prestigious Fremantle to Albany Yacht Race in April 2026, a premier offshore sailing event proudly sponsored by Great Southern Lime, in celebration of the City of Albany's Bicentenary.
Posted on 3 Apr
Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS day 4
Getting that winning mojo back on the Bay of Palma Coming as it does as the first major all-classes regatta after the Paris 2024 Olympics, the huge 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels sailing regatta represents the perfect opportunity to rebuild dented confidence.
Posted on 3 Apr
Official program for Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta
The release of the official program for the 2025 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta We are thrilled to announce the release of the official program for the 2025 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, taking place from April 16th to 21st.
Posted on 3 Apr
2025 Chile World Cup Masters Overall
Masters finalists deliver explosive showdown The Masters division lit up the lineup today at the 5 Star World Cup, as four legends of wave riding battled it out in a fiercely contested final under the Chilean sun at the legendary Topocalma.
Posted on 3 Apr
It's on for young and old in Pittwater to Coffs
33 boats are lining up for the 2025 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race A wide-ranging field of 33 boats is lining up for the 2025 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race which starts on 11th April at 1pm, the 39th running subject to restrictions on number of entries.
Posted on 3 Apr
Melbourne Osaka Race Update - The Gamble
The Solomon Islands serve as a gatekeeper for the fleet The Solomon Islands serve as a gatekeeper for the fleet, posing challenges for the most seasoned sailors. Here, routing software becomes less reliable, with forecasts often failing to materialise.
Posted on 3 Apr
Perth to hosts Australian Open Match Racing Champs
Bringing together top-ranked match racing teams from across the country Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) is proud to announce it will host the prestigious 2025 Australian Open Match Racing Championships, taking place on the pristine waters of Matilda Bay, Swan River.
Posted on 2 Apr