21st Century Jules Verne Gone Solar

by Cruising Editor on 9 May 2006 'We'd like to be the Phileas Foggs of the 21st century', admits Raphaël Domjan, from Neuchatel, Switzerland. Almost 133 years after the first appearance of Jules Verne's travelling heroes, this adventure-hearted sportsman is dreaming of circling the earth in 80 days on a delicately shaped solar trimaran.

The idea is particularly appealing to a lot of sailing enthusiasts, as the technology escapes the noise and pollution of conventional engines. Imagine a future where, when the breeze dies, you simply switch to solar, lessening the need to turn on a noisy engine or sit and wait for wind.

To turn the dream into a reality, he has attracted a circle of specialists, and included the grandson of the writer Jules Verne himself. The project is called PlanetSolar, a Swiss-French connection, situated in the Three Lakes Region of Switzerland. The craft is a unusually shaped trimaran, which, in the organisers’ words, ‘seems like a swan alighting on water’ or ‘an enormous immaculate white bird’.

The world expedition by a 'solar-powered' trimaran will sail the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans keeping close to the equator to take advantage of maximum sunshine. The trimaran will be propelled by a silent, completely non-polluting motorization that is powered only by renewable energies.

The Organisation behind Domjan states:
'Today, our society is dependent on fossil fuels which are in limited supply and which are causing measurable negative effects on the earth's atmosphere. Within the current context of greenhouse gas taxes destined to promote a greater respect for the environment, as well as the relentless rise in oil prices, it is now time to demonstrate the potential that renewable energies have to offer in the area of sustainable mobility.

'The environmental conservation of our planet through the promotion and use of photovoltaic energy, from fuel cells and electric boats, is at the heart of this project. This represents a tremendous opportunity to inform the general public and heighten their awareness on the importance of renewable energies.'

The project talks of sponsorships, but has not announced any - an opportunity here for corporations wishing to be identified with good world citizenship. To learn more, go to their PlanetSolar Website .

Time Line:

2004-2005 First feasibility study undertaken by the MW-Line Ltd. Co., Yvonand (Vaud), Switzerland
From March 2006 Sponsor and Financial Partner Search (1 to 3 main sponsors, whose names/logos will appear on the boat; and who will share the ownership of the boat)
2006-2007 Set up of the Operations Team
2006-2007 Conceptual design phase
2006-2008 Final detailed design and boat construction
Early 2008 Initial testing
From 2008 to 2009 Departure for the around the world voyage, with stopovers, in 120 days; powered by solar energy.

About the Boat:

A Harmony between Technology and Poetry

With its impressive photovoltaic solar 'wings' spanning 180 m2 and its 'wavepiercer' (a third, centred hull that cuts through waves), the innovative PlanetSolar trimaran imitates the graceful landing of a swan, as it skims the water with its feet. Indeed, in spite of its remarkable proportions (see below), and the absence of sails, it gives the impression of being an enormous immaculate, white bird of the sea; with a sense of lightness and fluidity owing to its pure design. However, underneath the poetry of its sublime silhouette, lies a boat at the forefront of technology, as envisioned by the MW-Line Ltd. Company. MW-Line has already successfully built the fleet of Aquarel Boats now running on Lake Léman as well as the solar powered catamarans used at the 2002 Swiss National Exposition, Expo.02.

Maximum research has been undertaken to insure that this futuristic craft will be able to charge its storage batteries even with a minimum amount of sunlight available. The PlanetSolar engineers must oversee the boat's propulsion system, the solar panels' energy yield and energy storage, all the materials used in the boat's construction and the environmental conditions. A 10 kW motor power would be sufficient to propel the boat to an average speed of 10 knots (18,5 km/h). The storage batteries capacity is aimed at covering navigation autonomy of at least 48 hours; without any additional energy input.


The Boat at a Glance...

Length: 30 metres
Width: 16 metres
Weight: 10 tons
Solar panels' Surface: 180 m2
Installed Solar Power : 30 kW
Average Speed: 10 knots, or 18,5 km/h
Maximum Speed: 15 knots, or 27 km/h
Capacity: 12 people
Cockpit: 6,50 meters above water line

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