Photos copyright: KG/monacoeye. Do not copy without permission. Images: Kiel, March 2010.

Yacht name: Planet Solar
Length: 102 ft • 31 m
Year: 2010
Builder: Knierim Yacht Club, Kiel
Solar banks: 536 m²
Autonomy: Infinite …

An exclusive set of photos detailing yesterday’s launch of the world’s largest solar-powered ship, Planet Solar, from monacoeye special correspondent in Kiel, Klaus Gaeth.

This Kiel-built 31-metre catamaran, which is only powered by light, will soon be embarking on a round-the-world-trip at an estimated average speed of 7.5 knots (14 km/h) and a very impressive top speed of 14 knots (25 km/h), drawing on the 127 hp produced by its 536 square metres of photovoltaic cells.

But what if it’s cloudy? The ship only consumes 27 hp so there should be a fair amount of power to spare, with some large batteries on board presumably to store all that solar goodness.

Three or four crew members will skipper this boat, which can accommodate a total of 40 passengers.




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length - year: 102 - 2010

Yacht name: Alinghi 5
LWL: 90 ft • 27 m (LOA about 120 ft)
Built: Villeneuve, Switzerland
Architects: Rolf Vfroljik and Alinghi design team headed by Grant Simmer

Photo: LM • Genoa • September 2009

The new Alinghi 5 was flown down to Genoa from Geneva (over the Alps?!), suspended beneath a helicopter, after initial tests on Lac Leman. This shot was taken by Leandro at the Amico yard soon after it arrived. That's Azzurra II in front and Cuor di Leone behind.

As it stands, the 33rd America's Cup will see Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi team (Société Nautique de Genève) challenged by Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle team (Golden Gate Yacht Club) off the East coast of Australia in February 2010. Alinghi will be sailing their 90 ft sloop-rigged catamaran and Oracle sailing a similar-sized trimaran, BMW Oracle Racing 90.

Controversially, Alinghi's winches are electrically powered.

Given the insane amount of legal manoeuvring that has characterized this race, one can only assume the legal challenges are not yet over.

length - year: 120 - 2009

Yacht name: White Rabbit
Length: 200 ft • 61 m
Year: 2005
Builder: North West Bay Ships
Architect: Sam Giovanni

Photo: Jayson Kitingan • Sutera Harbour Marina, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia • September 2008
Photo: Dainis Kivlenieks • Fremantle, Australia • November 2006

September 2008: White Rabbit dropped in to the island of Sabah. November 2006: Dainis Kivlenieks, took these very nice shots of the fast Singaporean trimaran White Rabbit, as it made a rare stopover in Fremantle near Perth in Western Australia. He says: We don't get many big boats around here, so this was a treat…

length - year: 200 - 2005

Yacht name: Bradley
Length: 25.8 m
Year: 2007
Builder: H2X
Design: Gilles Vaton & Sebastien Grall
Top speed: 30 knots

This catamaran is billed as a 188 square metre (2000 sq ft) floating apartment, equipped with hydrojet propulsion for shallow water manoeuvrabillity. Since the LWL is just under 24 metres, Bradley does not require a professional crew.

length - year: 85 - 2007