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TRAVEL · April 20, 2012

PlanetSolar Visits Amalfi

What is it ... a bird? a plane? a spaceship? It's PlanetSolar - the world's largest solar powered boat!

As my eyes scanned the familiar view across Amalfi’s harbor, they stopped at something with a large, flat top docked on the opposite side. “What is that?” I asked my husband as we stood there squinting into the sunshine. “It looks like a spaceship landed in Amalfi,” I said. And with that there was nothing else to do except to take a stroll along the harbor to check out just what had landed in Amalfi. As we got a closer, it was the oddest looking boat we’d ever seen.

PlanetSolar docked in the Amalfi harbor

We could see that it was a catamaran style boat, but that’s about all we could figure out. We weren’t the only ones standing around in Amalfi staring either. It’s not every day a boat like this sails into the harbor.

Ciao Amalfi Coast Blog Solar Powered Boat
A closer look at PlanetSolar in Amalfi

It wasn’t until we climbed the stairs to the upper level of the large pier that defines the port of Amalfi that we could really get a good idea of what we were looking at. A solar powered boat!

A good look at PlanetSolar's solar panels that power the boat

When we got home I looked up the name PlanetSolar and realized we had just seen the world’s biggest solar powered boat. Those solar panels on the top of the boat measure 537 m2 and create enough energy to power everything on the boat. If that isn’t cool enough, PlanetSolar is on the very last leg of a tour around the world. Amalfi is one of the last stops before it returns to Monte Carlo. Here are the details of the world tour from the PlanetSolar website:

“PlanetSolar is accomplishing a journey around the world calling several times along the Equator where the available sunshine period is maximal. The four sailors of PlanetSolar will cross the Atlantic ocean, the Panama Canal, the Pacific ocean, the Indian ocean, and finally the Suez Canal in order to reach the Mediterranean.

The stops (Miami, Cancun, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, etc.) will allow the project to increase its impact and visibility and will serve as a promotion platform for renewable energy and solar energy in particular.”

Arm power and solar power in Amalfi

What luck that PlanetSolar arrived in Amalfi on the only day of sunshine last week! I’m not sure how long the crew intended to stay, but they arrived just in time to weather some tough spring storms coming down the coast of Italy. The sun has been peeking out between the clouds and rain today, so I hope they’ve been able to absorb enough energy to fully recharge the batteries. Despite the bad weather, the crew seems to be enjoying the Amalfi Coast.

“This place is really beautiful, it looks like the village is hanging from the cliff with its feet in the water…”

-Excerpt from Log Book – Day 569 – 04.18.2012

Wishing the crew of PlanetSolar fair sailing and abundant sunshine as they make their way to Monte Carlo to finish the first around the world trip with solar energy!

Posted In: TRAVEL · Tagged: Amalfi, Amalfi Coast, Boats, Costiera Amalfitana

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Comments

  1. Barbara says

    April 20, 2012 at 17:54

    That is so amazing! I love the idea of a catamaran entirely solar powered. And it looks so luxurious! Now… to reveal the price of such a boat. 🙂

    Reply
    • Laura says

      May 5, 2012 at 08:50

      Ciao Barbara! I bet the cost was through the roof. They have proven that it’s possible, and that just blows me away!

      Reply
  2. Sandra says

    April 21, 2012 at 00:55

    What a strange looking boat! That is one voyage I would love to take!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      May 5, 2012 at 08:49

      Ciao Mom! It sure is. I’ve enjoyed following their blog as they traveled up the coast of Italy. Wish I had found out about it earlier!

      Reply
  3. Amber says

    April 21, 2012 at 21:34

    What an sight that must have been. I love that you just happened across it.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      May 5, 2012 at 08:48

      Ciao Amber! I just read online that they’re about a few days off from finishing their around the world trip in Monaco. What an inspiration!

      Reply
  4. Welshcakes Limoncello says

    April 23, 2012 at 17:29

    Gosh, it does look like a spaceship!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      May 5, 2012 at 08:47

      Crazy, isn’t it? Just imagine the possibilities as solar technology increases.

      Reply

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My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

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