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May 22, 2012 By News Staff
In September 2010, the world's largest solar powered boat -- the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar -- set sail from Monaco to become the first boat to circumnavigate the globe using only the sun's power. Last month, it finished its journey where it began.
According to gizmag.com, a crew of five piloted the 102-foot long, 49-foot wide vessel, which is covered in 5,780 sqare feet of solar panels. These provide power to four electric motors (two located in each hull), that have a maximum output of 120 kW and can propel the boat to a speed of 14 knots. It is constructed mainly of a light yet durable carbon fiber-sandwich material.
Photos courtesy of planetsolar.org
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The caption on the first picture says the ship "finished its 18-month trip..." The opening paragraph says "More than 2 years ago, the world's largest solar powered boat -- the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar -- set sail..." "Last month, it finished its journey". Which is it? 1 year and a half, or more than 2 years?
the boat probably stayed in sheltered harbors to avoid serious storms along its route. So it likely spent 18 month actually traveling, though it started the trip 'more than 2 years ago'.