An adventurer from that well-known sea-faring nation Switzerland is preparing to set sail on what he hopes will be the first circumnavigation of the globe in a solar-powered vessel.
, 37, worked as an ambulance driver, mountain guide and rescue specialist before co-founding the
project last year. His boat, shown above, is a catamaran, 31 metres long and 15 metres across, that will be powered by 500 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels on it deck.
, the science-based products and services company, has agreed to provide
special coatings and materials
for the photovoltaic panels, enabling them to weather the tough marine environment.
The boat, with a crew of four, is expected to average a respectable speed of 7.5 knots on its voyage next year. En route,
including New York, San Francisco, Darwin, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
Switzerland is also home to the
project, led by
, who aims to be the first to fly non-stop around the world in a solar-powered aircraft.
What is it with the Swiss? Must be that thin mountain air.
