It had occurred to Raphael Domjan, a 39 year old Swiss, in the spring of 2004 a notion that might seem obscure to some, but to him it was more of a second nature. Being quite the jack of all trades; trained electronics engineer, jet and glider pilot and avid eco defender, it seems only natural to seek new and innovative approaches to reduce our carbon footprints.
So what was this eccentric thought you ask? Well, Jules Verne’s novels have undoubtedly inspired him to go on an adventure of his own and attempt journey to travel around the world aboard a ship powered solely through solar energy.
This journey seemed quite feasible to execute, both ecologically and technologically, yet it puzzled him why no one had attempted it before.
It was not until February 2008 that his dream started to be realized owing to a meeting with Mr. Immo Ströher, a German entrepreneur in the field of renewable energy with adequate experience in the concerned matter.
What is so unique about this particular endeavor? Well, a clean and eco-friendly navigation that runs without any fossil fuel would have enormous commercial implementations. Two year of designing and assembling result in a boat that remains unrivaled: Tûranor PlanetSolar.
The PlanetSolar project consolidated an international dream team made up of physicians, engineers, shipbuilders and sailors whose contributions to the success of the first trip around the world using solar energy have been unparalleled.
A top view of the Boat
“It was one month with soldiers onboard, and a lot of stress,” he says. “We were at 5 knots with the solar energy, and we were between Yemen and Somalia. In Yemen, with the soldiers and guns we had, we could have gone to jail. And in Somalia, we could be hostages, and eat rice for one year.”
Ships that cross the stretch usually go at speeds from 15 to 20 knots, to make it as quickly as possible. So, you might infer how dangerous it might have been to go as slow as 5 knots.
The four-strong crew followed the equator as closely as possible in order to get the most sunlight. They did a pretty good job, since Domjan revealed that the solar power worked almost perfectly, allowing the boat and everything onboard to function with great precision. A gas-powered cooker was an exception though, yet the crew were never concerned it would run out of power since even on dark days, the panels generated sufficient power.
The Boat while stopping in Abu Dhabi
So what did Domjan ultimately prove with this expedition? Well, for one, that solar power is something that can actually be effectuated today even in the face of the worsening threat of climate change, and is not a work of fiction for “sometime in the near future”.
Another valid utilization, as Domjan pointed out, could be for diving boats; since you can enjoy the underwater wildlife in a much better perspective with no noise and vibration to distract.
So, just beware of the pirates and ay ay Captin!
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