A man spends 200 days building a yacht powered by perpetual solar energy and suffers a major disappointment on his first trip

A man who spent 200 days building an exploration yacht powered solely by solar energy finally launched his prototype, Helios 11, on its maiden voyage. The project was developed in Finland and aimed to create a vessel capable of operating indefinitely using solar power, without relying on marinas or fuel.

The yacht was tested on France’s winter canals, where low temperatures and frozen sections slowed the progress of the trip. The builder took advantage of these conditions to assess how the yacht behaved under stress and to carry out additional design tests. However, the journey did not begin under the ideal conditions he had expected.

Stability and design testing

While Helios 11 was trapped in the ice, the owner used the time to experiment with a new catamaran concept called Halo 13. He built a 1:13 scale model with two narrow hulls and weighted it to replicate the center of gravity of a full-sized boat.

The tests showed that, despite its relatively narrow beam, the vessel had a high resistance to capsizing, and only extreme waves hitting at an unfavorable angle would pose a significant risk.

The builder plans to continue refining the catamaran’s shape, conduct more tests, and build a scale model of the Helios 11 to compare both designs before resuming the maiden voyage.

How does a solar-powered boat work?

The Helios 11 yacht operates using high-efficiency solar panels that capture sunlight throughout the day and store it in advanced batteries. This energy powers the electric propulsion motors and onboard systems such as lighting, climate control, and navigation. As a result, the boat can operate quietly and without direct emissions, even at night or in cloudy conditions.

The project’s goal remains the same: to create a solar yacht that can travel autonomously for long periods while providing a stable and comfortable living space during navigation. Once the canal waters thaw, Helios 11 is expected to resume its journey and complete additional tests to confirm its sustainable navigation capabilities.

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