Planet Solar: Breaking record after record
The genius of some visionaries never ceases to amaze. Humans have always sought to defy nature and thanks to the amazing machines that have created, have surpassed all “limits”, like traveling to the Moon and perhaps we are not far from seeing the first manned spacecraft bound for the planet Mars.
The visionaries who created the Swiss company Planet Solar always surprise us as they continue to break world records and defy nature, through the operation and administration of the catamaran MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, powered exclusively by solar energy.
On 4 May 2012, after 584 days of sailing and more than 60,000 km sailed, the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar completed the first trip around the world powered by solar energy. After undergoing significant maintenance, the vessel left La Ciotat (France) on 8 April 2013 for the US coastline and began its second life, by being transformed into a scientific platform for the “PlanetSolar DeepWater” expedition. The purpose of that mission was to collect an ongoing series of physical and biological measurements along the Gulf Stream, in both water and air using high-tech measurements and the expertise of scientists from the University of Geneva.
After this success, the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar spent the winter at the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly in Lorient. Included in the museum visits, the boat was open to the public and schools during its stay.
The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar will soon cast off for new unexplored solar expeditions. In parallel, the company will expand its sphere of activities into the renewable energy and clean mobility sector. Gérard d’Aboville, who captained the vessel during the 2013 campaign, will resume control of the Swiss solar boat for its 2014 expeditions
The official launch of this new campaign will take place from 14 to 28 April at Boulogne-sur-Mer (France) where the boat will be the guest of honour at the 23rd Festival des Images de Mer (Festival of the Sea Images), organised by the National Sea Centre (NAUSICAA).
The catamaran will then continue its journey toward the Mediterranean Sea. It will return to the Principality of Monaco, witness of the success of the first solar powered tour of the world in 2012, to offer its services to the Solar1 Monte Carlo Cup 2014 (first solar boat race) which will take place in mid-July.
The MS TûranorPlanetSolar should then head toward Greece where it is scheduled, in collaboration with the University of Geneva, to resume its role as a scientific platform for the purpose of studying submerged prehistoric landscapes. The catamaran would be involved in conducting undersea research led by archaeologists.