Sailing Around the World On Solar Power

www.wired.com
July 22, 2009

Eschewing earth, wind and fire, an intrepid sailor plans to circumnavigate the world in a 60 foot solar energyed boat. Backed by the Peoples Projects Foundation, Anthony Howarth is building the Solar Circumnavigator to raise awareness about environmental issues and give the world a "solar energy wake-up call." According to Howarth, the boat will have "no internal combustion engines, no sails, no wind generators and no fuels of any kind onboard," a restriction that includes cooking fuel.

Howarth expects to begin building the boat later this year, with the voyage taking place in 2010 or 2011. Should the Circumnavigator get in the water before Planet Solar, he even has a chance at being the first to accomplish a round-the-world journey powered only by the sun.

Howarth told Wired.com the Circumnavigator would feature cells with 30% efficiency that self-orient towards the sun — allowing for output 50% greater than a fixed solar array. The cells will power a DC motor driving six fixed-speed propellers that will be activated in pairs as needed. More power? More propellers. According to Howarth, the multi-propeller setup is more efficient than variable-speed propulsion.

The boat will be made from lightweight, renewable plywood that Howarth says is "as light and effective a boat building material as fashionable non-renewable composites." The wood-is-better philosophy follows the lead of the Global GreenCat — a prototype boat (pictured above) created by Howarth in 1995 but abandoned due to what he called "a general lack of concern about environmental issues and resultant lack of support." He wouldn't show us any photos or renderings of the Solar Circumnavigator because he worries someone would steal his design.

When the boat arrives at a port of call, Howarth plans to use an existing solar dinghy to reach shore and one of two existing solar runabouts to travel on land. They're proof-of-concept vehicles and all part of an attempt at evangelizing solar energy. Of course Howarth plans to film the entire expedition, and we promise to provide you with updates along the way.