Xavier Onassiss Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 ...in a solar powered catamaran! http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/05/02/solar-powered-catamaran-circles-the-earth/ And I totally want one, but it won't fit under the x-mas tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narf the Mouse Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days ...A year and two thirds to go around the planet? I hope they stopped at every port along the way, because that is slow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xavier Onassiss Posted May 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days ...A year and two thirds to go around the planet? I hope they stopped at every port along the way' date=' because that is slow...[/quote'] They have logbooks and google earth data on their website which illustrates the route they took. Apparently the boat was built for endurance rather than speed and I think they did make quite a few stops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narf the Mouse Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days They have logbooks and google earth data on their website which illustrates the route they took. Apparently the boat was built for endurance rather than speed and I think they did make quite a few stops. Just saying, it's not the best speed advertisement for their boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xavier Onassiss Posted May 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days Just saying' date=' it's not the best speed advertisement for their boat. [/quote'] Well, here's the thing: they did it with zero fuel and no sails. OTOH, powering a long-range boat might not be the best application of solar power to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeropoint Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days Didn't someone point out that since the sun drives our winds, a sailboat is ALSO solar powered . . . and much faster? Does it make sense to brag about "no sails" when sails are BETTER than what you've got? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days Didn't someone point out that since the sun drives our winds' date=' a sailboat is ALSO solar powered . . . and much faster? Does it make sense to brag about "no sails" when sails are BETTER than what you've got?[/quote'] Only because currently Sails have been in development longer. Also note that solar panels are not nearly that vulnerable to storms on sea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xavier Onassiss Posted May 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days Only because currently Sails have been in development longer. Also note that solar panels are not nearly that vulnerable to storms on sea. And they'll work just as well no matter which way the wind is blowing, or if there's no wind at all, for that matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmower Boy Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days Clouds? Seriously, as a power system for a ship, this is a solution looking for a problem. Again I say onto thee: you can make POL feedstocks out of air given sufficient energy inputs. The problem isn't the traction engine. It's energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days 584 days is the synodic period of Venus. In a pulp campaign, you could make something out of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Re: Around the World in 584 Days Clouds? Contrary to popular belief not that much of an issue. Photvoltaik systems work strongly in the infrared, wich is not absorbed that strong by clouds. And for night, there are batteries. Wich according to the article can keep to boat running for three days straight. Seriously' date=' as a power system for a ship, this is a solution looking for a problem. Again I say onto thee: you can make POL feedstocks out of air given sufficient energy inputs. The problem isn't the traction engine. It's energy.[/quote'] At our current technical ability it is certianly not viable yet. But this was a prototype. It's more in line with the first ship to sail around the world, than with the latests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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