This is how Columbus started!

       

Further reading

• Trip across the Atlantic (22)

A Swiss solar-powered boat arrived in New York in early May after a trip across the Atlantic; a distance of approximately 7,000 sea miles and at a speed equivalent to that of sailing yachts. The crew, six people, was somewhat larger than what they used to have on similar sailing adventures.

The technical setting for the drive seems remarkably simple: two pieces of 8 kW motors, two pieces of 48V lead accumulators with a capacity of 520 Ah and two pieces of 5 kW solar modules (65 sqm in total).

This looks like something that anyone could put together in the garage, and still (or because of this?) this is a powerful indication of how solar power can be useful. After all, Columbus made a similar journey with rather limited resources!