The world’s largest solar-powered boat – TÛRANOR PlanetSolar – departed from Monaco on September 27 in an effort to become the first boat to circumnavigate the globe using only solar energy. Aside from getting another world record under the boat’s belt, the aim of the expedition is to reveal that, through the use of existing materials and technology, high-performance solar mobility can be realized today.The multihull vessel is covered in 537 square meters (5,780 sq ft) of solar panels, which power the electric motors situated in each hull that can propel the boat to a speed of 14 knots. Although the vessel is capable of hosting 40 passengers and is intended to be used as a luxury yacht, the vessel is crewed by just six people and that is the number that will be making the world record attempt.
At the time of publication, the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar had crossed the Atlantic Ocean and was just north of Cuba, making its way towards its next intended stopover in Miami. Other planned stops for the PlanetSolar team comprise Cancun, San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, Abu Dhabi before concluding in Monaco sometime in 2011.
