Solar powered boats from all over the world are set to battle it out over two days in the first truly ‘green’ solar boat world championship. Developed by universities all over the world and driven by young students, this race is destined to be a future facing sport ; it promises to deliver a fantastic display of skill and endurance - using boats powered purely by the sun.
Slalom, Fleet and the most exciting One on One races will take place in front of Port Hercules and in Larvotto Bay. It will be a fantastic spectacle round courses based on those proposed at the beginning of the last century.
“The solar power industry is expanding at such a rapid pace that it was crying out for an event of equal magnitude to unite and represent its stakeholders. Not only do Solar boat enthusiasts have an unrivalled opportunity to display their engineering talents but the exciting thing is that they can also compete equally well with both the vertically integrated energy companies and ambitious young students”, says Sergei Dobroserdov, CEO of Solar1. “As a location Monaco can undoubtedly deliver thrilling and exciting sporting events. But its commitment to sustainable development and projects aiming to protect the environment mean it is the perfect fit for Solar 1 races”.
While this is not the first solar race to take place worldwide, it will be the first time many will race in the open waters of the Mediterranean. Marnix Hoekstra, Director of Solar 1’s technical partner Vripack, witnessed the solar boat take to the waters of Monaco for the first time during the race trials.
“It is incredible to see these boats fly across the water”, he says. “We organised sea trials in Monaco in August that left us in no doubt that solar boats are capable and seaworthy enough for tough races ! Understanding how they work is all part of the education process which we aim to integrate into this event”.’
Solar 1, together with the Yacht Club de Monaco, will host three days of events 10 - 12 July which so far include :
Solar boat races
Solar Conference
Kids Solar boat model race
Opening/Prize-giving ceremonies
World’s largest solar-powered vessel Planet Solar confirmed their participation as Jury Boat.
2021 is beginning with a highly symbolic project becoming reality for MerConcept. François Gabart’s business has just signed a contract to build its first pleasure craft. This is the first step in the diversification process they have opted for, with the aim of transferring technology from ocean racing to the maritime sector.
RS Electric Boats, the brand-new sister company to RS Sailing, this week launches the Pulse58 - its exciting new innovative electric RIB. Unveiled at Boot Dusseldorf, the Pulse58 is the product of 2 years of development and is ground-breaking as the first ever production RIB with a fully integral electric drive.
The zero-emission catamaran “Race for Water” has reached Madeira finishing the first leg on its journey across the Atlantic. The first of its kind yacht has been utilizing the innovative kite propulsion system developed by SkySails Yacht GmbH of Hamburg/Germany throughout the voyage.
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After more than 32,000 nautical miles across three oceans and a painful ordeal when the project’s flagship trimaran capsized, the environmental expedition concluded its journey today with its return to its home port. On arrival in Bordeaux, the team will assess nine-month worth of data collected and the personalities and general public that the (…)
On her way from the Koror Islands to Chagos Islands, in the Indian Ocean, the MOD70 Race for Water trimaran has capsized yesterday at 8:15PM (GMT +1), 90 miles South East from the Chagos Archipelago, as they were navigating by night with 18 to 20 knots of wind. Further information about the exact reasons of the accident will follow. The crew is (…)
For each of those sailing on the Volvo Ocean Race a day in the office is full of tasks that could all be included under a heading of monotonous daily chores. These chores, however, do not include putting the rubbish out for the bin men, collecting the daily newspaper and reading the mail, but are more tacking, stacking and moving gear to the (…)
Marc au départ de la Transat Anglaise 2000. Photo : Ch.Guigueno
Marc Thiercelin, le navigateur atypique de la course au large, a décidé de rempiler dans un nouveau tour du monde en solitaire. Malgré une fin de Vendée Globe difficile, l’ancien barreur d’Active Wear, revendu à Joé Seeten, s’est inscrit au tour du monde avec escales 2002.
Clipper Ventures, Around Alone 2002-03 race organisers, announced that renowned French skipper, Marc Thiercelin, has registered his entry into the Open 60 class for the 20th anniversary of this historic, solo, round the world yacht race. Thiercelin is the 9th skipper and 3rd Frenchman to sign up in Class I for the 6th edition of Around Alone, (…)
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Le 4 mai prochain sera donné le départ de la 13e édition de la course Croisière La Barquera. Epreuve créée en 1989 par Pierre Nicolas DUCATEL puis reprise par Match Racing, et organisée aujourd’hui par Loïc BAUDUIN et Damien GRIMONT de la société DEFIMER. Ils ont souhaité, en accord avec le Cercle de la Voile de Pornichet (CVP), le Yacht Club (…)
L’équipage de Djuice devant le cap Horn le 10 février.
Après plus de 10 jours de chevauchée fantastique dans les mers du sud, une page est définitivement tournée dans cette édition de la Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002. Les froids polaires et les grands frissons sont derrière, les chaleurs tropicales et la guerre des nerfs devant. Pour encore 2 000 milles de course-poursuite jusqu’à Rio de Janeiro où la (…)
The conditions that the crews of the Volvo Ocean Race have faced on this leg four from Auckland to Rio de Janeiro have been extreme to say the least. They started the race in Auckland in hot Summer conditions, went through the freezer of the Southern Ocean and now having rounded Cape Horn are on their way to hot and tropical Rio. The (…)
A two hour delay for weather conditions to moderate saw the first race of the America’s Cup International Regatta start at 1310 New Zealand time today (Monday). In 12 knots of breeze from the North East and a fast disappearing swell, four boats representing three of the challengers and the defender of the next America’s Cup lined up on the (…)
Les régates organisées par le Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron ont commencé cette nuit (heure européenne). La course en flotte à laquelle participent trois challengers et le defender de la prochaine Coupe de l’America a vu la victoire du Class America Suédois, seul bateau neuf à participer.