A brief history of solar boat racing
Poster from the 1st Solar Splash in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1994
TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY DELFT (TU DELFT)'S ENTRY iN THE INAUGURAL FRISEN SOLAR CHALLENGE
Video from the first Monaco Solar Challenge (Monte Carlo Cup) held in the principality's Port Hercule in 2014
the solar boat world speed record holder from Clavis Victron: at 26.6 knots - 49.2 km/h: about the speed limit on Toronto streets!
1994: UNITED STATES
The first solar boat races were launched in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, in 1994, with the introduction of theSolar Splash’.
The competition, for U.S. University and College teams, was designed as a practical educational experience helping to develop teamwork and interdisciplinary skills. Its official description is “an international intercollegiate solar/electric boat regatta”.
The competition serves as an opportunity for students to compete and showcase their accomplishments. Students learn to use solar energy for transportation purposes and get hands-on experience with sustainable energy, energy management, and the importance of efficiency and good design.
The college teams can combine students and faculty from general engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and increasingly, solar and renewable energy technology faculties. Solar Splash has been run annually for the past 24 years, and has evolved with and adapted to the rapid changes in solar panel and electric boat motor technologies.
2004: EUROPE
In 2004, in Europe, solar boat racing was pioneered when the energy department of the province of Frysia, in the Netherlands, was inspired by the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge solar car race in Australia to create a solar powered boat race.
After working with the Technical University of Delft and developing the regulations and criterion, the Notice of Race for the first edition of the Frisian Solar Challenge was presented at the Waterpoort in the town of Sneek.
The race was patterned after a famous marathon skating race in the Netherlands, the Elfstedentocht In 2006 the inaugural Frisian Solar Challenge took place, sponsored by the Dutch utility company Nuon.
Twenty four teams participated, with four teams eventually finishing sailing within 24 hours. Two years later thirty nine boats entered with twenty four teams managing the finish. Largely because of the number of techncal universities in the Netherlands that have marine engineering faculties,
Holland has become the centre of solar boat racing. The competition continued to grow along with Solar Splash and in 2014 the Yacht Club de Monaco agreed that solar boat racing and the technology’s optimistic and exciting view of the future was a fitting way to continue the Club’s century old reputation for being at the forefront of boating technology.
2014: MONACO
In 2014 the first Monaco Solar Boat Challenge was held at the club’s spectacular new facilities in Port Hercule, sponsored by the Foundation of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
It was a tremendous success from its inception, and in 2018 electric boats (not necessarily powered by solar energy) were added to the regatta.
The year 2014 also marked the launch of the Young Solar Challenge in the Netherlands.The goal of Young Solar is to bring young people in contact with STEM education in a fun way by teaching them how to build a solar boat by themselves. Like all other solar boat initiatives, Young Solar grows every year, and the first competitors are now moving into the study of related technologies as they enter unversity and college.
Along the way since 1994 there have been some notable changes in solar boat racing. The most obvious to the casual observer is the introduction of hydrofoils in 2012 by the Dutch team Clavis Victron.
Hydrofoils lift the hull of the boat out of the water onto a set of ‘skis’ or pontoons, reducing the surface area in contact with the water, thereby reducing drag and enabling higher speeds. Clavis Victron smashed the world solar boat speed record when it unveiled its hydrofoil technoogy in 2012 and continues to break its own records each year. The current mark is 26.6 knots - 30.2 miles per hour/ 49.2 kilometres per hour.
Solar boat racing is now so popular that it warrants an organization – Solar Sport One – that oversees the racing and assures that boat and participants comply with the published regulations. Solar Sport oversees three classes of boats and boat racing in Europe: A Class, Top Class and V20.
The V20 class is the Formula One of solar boat racing. Participants must compete using the V20 hull designed by the prestigious yacht design firm Vripack and must conform to strict regulations governing weight, battery type, continuous and peak power and propulsion systems.
2020: CANADA
As technological advances become more frequent and substantial in the word of solar panels and electric boat motors, solar sport racing continues to grow. In 2020 the city of Toronto will host the Toronto Solar Sport Races along its popular and easily accessible waterfront, less than 10 minutes trolley trip from the downtown core of what is now North America’s 3rd largest city.
1994: UNITED STATES
The first solar boat races were launched in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, in 1994, with the introduction of theSolar Splash’. The competition, for U.S. University and College teams, was designed as a practical educational experience helping to develop teamwork and interdisciplinary skills.
Its official description is “an international intercollegiate solar/electric boat regatta”. The competition serves as an opportunity for students to compete and showcase their accomplishments. Students learn to use solar energy for transportation purposes and get hands-on experience with sustainable energy, energy management, and the importance of efficiency and good design.
The college teams can combine students and faculty from general engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and increasingly, solar and renewable energy technology faculties.
Solar Splash has been run annually for the past 24 years, and has evolved with and adapted to the rapid changes in solar panel and electric boat motor technologies.
2004: EUROPE
In 2004, in Europe, solar boat racing was pioneered when the energy department of the province of Frysia, in the Netherlands, was inspired by the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge solar car race in Australia to create a solar powered boat race.
After working with the Technical University of Delft and developing the regulations and criterion, the Notice of Race for the first edition of the Frisian Solar Challenge was presented at the Waterpoort in the town of Sneek.
The race was patterned after a famous marathon skating race in the Netherlands, the Elfstedentocht In 2006 the inaugural Frisian Solar Challenge took place, sponsored by the Dutch utility company Nuon.
Twenty four teams participated, with four teams eventually finishing sailing within 24 hours. Two years later thirty nine boats entered with twenty four teams managing the finish.
Largely because of the number of techncal universities in the Netherlands that have marine engineering faculties, Holland has become the centre of solar boat racing.
The competition continued to grow along with Solar Splash and in 2014 the Yacht Club de Monaco agreed that solar boat racing and the technology’s optimistic and exciting view of the future was a fitting way to continue the Club’s century old reputation for being at the forefront of boating technology.
2014: MONACO
In 2014 the first Monaco Solar Boat Challenge was held at the club’s spectacular new facilities in Port Hercule, sponsored by the Foundation of Prince Albert II of Monaco. It was a tremendous success from its inception, and in 2018 electric boats (not necessarily powered by solar energy) were added to the regatta.
The year 2014 also marked the launch of the Young Solar Challenge in the Netherlands.The goal of Young Solar is to bring young people in contact with STEM education in a fun way by teaching them how to build a solar boat by themselves. Like all other solar boat initiatives, Young Solar grows every year, and the first competitors are now moving into the study of related technologies as they enter university and college.
Along the way since 1994 there have been some notable changes in solar boat racing. The most obvious to the casual observer is the introduction of hydrofoils in 2012 by the Dutch team Clavis Victron. Hydrofoils lift the hull of the boat out of the water onto a set of ‘skis’ or pontoons, reducing the surface area in contact with the water, thereby reducing drag and enabling higher speeds.
Clavis Victron smashed the world solar boat speed record when it unveiled its hydrofoil technoogy in 2012 and continues to break its own records each year. The current mark is 26.6 knots - 30.2 miles per hour/ 49.2 kilometres per hour.
Solar boat racing is now so popular that it warrants an organization – Solar Sport One – that oversees the racing and assures that boat and participants comply with the published regulations.
Solar Sport oversees three classes of boats and boat racing in Europe: A Class, Top Class and V20. The V20 class is the Formula One of solar boat racing. Participants must compete using the V20 hull designed by the prestigious yacht design firm Vripack and must conform to strict regulations governing weight, battery type, continuous and peak power and propulsion systems.
2019: CANADA
As technological advances become more frequent and substantial in the word of solar panels and electric boat motors, solar sport racing continues to grow. In 2019 the city of Toronto will host the Toronto Solar Sport Races along its popular and easily accessible waterfront, less than 10 minutes trolley trip from the downtown core of what is now North America’s 3rd largest city.