| First Solar Atlantic Crossing Attempt Is Underway |
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19 October 2006, for National Geographic News The future of seafaring is solar—or so hopes a small band of pioneers who left Basel, Switzerland, on Monday, to begin the first sun-powered Atlantic Ocean crossing. They're aiming to show that it's feasible to cover long distances without using a drop of gas—or even sails. The goal is the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency … ," said Martin Vosseler, a Swiss physician and environmentalist who is helping man the boat. "Because of the present climate change, we have no other choice," Vosseler said. Five others will accompany Vosseler on the boat, named sun21 after an energy forum Vosseler started in 1997. The motorized catamaran has two polyester hulls and measures 46 feet (14 meters) by 21 feet (6.5 meters). Solar panels cover its 700-square-foot (65-square-meter) roof. Sun21 was christened on October 16 and then motored up the Rhine River to the North Sea (Switzerland map). The crew will then continue along the coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain. In the Spanish town of Seville, they will begin the open-ocean part of the journey in late November. Batteries Included MW-Line, a Swiss manufacturer of solar-powered boats, fashioned sun21 after their line of boats used to carry passengers around Swiss lakes since 2002. These boats typically create more power during the day than they consume. That's crucial, considering that sun21 will draw on stored power to motor around the clock. The boat can run 20 hours on a full charge of its batteries. Other solar boats, from France to Austria, cruise around Europe's lakes and rivers. When docked, the boats can plug into the power grid to contribute their excess energy. Another ship, Solar Sailor, ferries passengers in Australia's Sydney Harbour using solar panels that can also catch the wind. A larger version of Solar Sailor will soon be coming to the United States to carry passengers in the San Francisco Bay, one of the country's busiest ports. But no one has made a solar-powered voyage across the Atlantic before, and no solar boat has carried more than one passenger on such a long trip. One adventurer, Japanese sailor Ken-ichi Horie, made a solo trip across the Pacific in 1996. It took him five months to cross that ocean in his submarine-shaped solar boat, made from recovered aluminum cans. Sun21 will move faster, about 7 miles an hour (11 kilometers an hour), and take about four months to cross the Atlantic. The crew could make it to the U.S. in less time, but they're taking time to stop at the Canary Islands off Morocco (map), the Cape Verde islands off northwestern Africa, and Martinique in the Caribbean Sea to spread their renewable-energy message. Once they reach the U.S. the crew will cruise up the East Coast from Florida to Boston, stopping at ports to make presentations along the way. Foot Soldier After the sea journey Vosseler will trade his sea legs for walking shoes to trek the width of the United States. "I would like to walk to demonstrate that you can get long distances without fossil fuels," Vosseler said. "The U.S. is still the highest consumer of energy and has the biggest ecological footprint [on] this planet—but to me, also the biggest potential for innovation," Vosseler said. He added, "If people in the United States really see something that is a chance and is necessary, developments can take off quite quickly. And that is, for me, a big encouragement." Eco-Adventurers The sun21 mariners aren't the only explorers aiming for green glory. "I believe that all the adventurers that can promote renewable energies should be supporters" of projects such as the sun21 trip, Swiss explorer and physician Bertrand Piccard said. In 1999 Piccard and British pilot Brian Jones became the first hot-air balloonists to circle the globe without stopping. Now Piccard is working on a solar plane that can circle the globe. That journey is planned for 2011. In addition, two groups so far have signed on for the World Solar Navigation Challenge. Inspired by the Jules Verne novel Around the World in 80 Days, the challenge is to see who can be first to circle the globe in a solar-powered boat. © National Geographic Society, all rights reserved
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