Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland), April 11th, 2012. The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, the world's largest solar boat ever built, will complete its journey around the world on May 4th in the Hercule harbour of Monaco.
A celebration weekend is organised to welcome the ship and its crew who has been travelling since September 2010.
PlanetSolar is just about to reach its goal! Currently sailing along the Greek coasts, the solar catamaran is expected to arrive in Monaco early in the afternoon on Friday May 4th. After crossing the finish line, the crew will participate in an official welcome ceremony. Raphaël Domjan, project founder, will tell the story of the adventure’s highlights. Part of the party, such as the “SolarLightShow” or the concert of the Swiss band Sonalp, will be powered by the energy of the boat’s batteries collected during more than 19 months of sunny navigation.
Politicians, project partners, families of the crew as well as the public and media will make for a big turnout in celebration of the success of this unique eco-adventure that has proven the huge potential of solar energy. Indeed, the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar will have sailed more than 58’000 km over all oceans with solar energy only.
Invitation to the media
Media will have the opportunity to immortalise this moment as well as discuss with the eco-adventurers, just back from their incredible expedition. Those unique and emotional moments can be captured on the spot as soon as the crew will disembark.
Festivities programme :
Friday, May 4, 2012 2.15 pm
Official crossing of the finish line
2.15 pm – 2.45 pm
Parade in front of the SolarFriendsCorner
4.00 pm
Official welcome ceremony
6.00 pm
Cocktail and Gala Dinner
Visit the ship and meet the crew
Visit the Solar Village
9.00 pm
SolarLightShow & Party
Saturday, May 5, 2012 5.30 pm
Ceremony « Imagine a Solar World » First price awarded by HRH Prince Albert II of Monaco
6.30 pm
19 months of solar navigation presented by the crew
7.30 pm
Cocktail & Gala Dinner
Visit the ship and the village
Meet the crew
9.00 pm
Solar concert: Sonalp
10.30 pm
SolarLightShow
The crossing of the finish line and the press conference will be broadcast live on our website (www.planetsolar.org) in order to let everyone share the arrival of the catamaran in real time.
About PlanetSolar
PlanetSolar was initiated by the Swiss Raphaël Domjan and has its headquarters in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, built in Kiel, Germany, is a catamaran powered exclusively by solar energy. It is covered with 537 m2 of photovoltaic panels. After two years of design and construction, PlanetSolar is behind many technological advances, especially in the field of composite manufacturing and storage of solar energy. PlanetSolar is primarily funded by private partners, the Swiss watchmaker Candino and German specialist in energy management Immosolar, but also by public institutions, including the Swiss Confederation, with Présence Suisse. Moreover, PlanetSolar uses weather forecasts offered by MeteoFrance. An innovative software has been developed specifically for this expedition with the support of the HEIG-VD in Yverdon and the French society ADRENA.
Features of MS Tûranor PlanetSolar
- Length: 35 m / Width: 23 m
- Height: 6.10 m / Weight: 95 t
- Solar Panels: 38’000 with 22,6% yield
- Maximum engine power: 120 kW
- Average Engine: 20 kW (26.8 HP)
- Crew: min 4 people
PlanetSolar SA
Galilée 15
CH-1400 Yverdon-les-Bains
Tel : +41 79 547 42 14
e-mail: press@planetsolar.org
www.planetsolar.org