Solar Energy on the Sea: Experiences From the Field

Old hand at sailing the open seas, the Finn Ari Huusela participated for one of the most demanding solo sail races in the world, The Transat 6,50 which was held in 1999.

The race started from France. The route was complex owing to the so-called Doldrums in the equator, but Ari was well-equipped to fight the challenging conditions!

Ari’s trump card is his work experience as a pilot and aviation mechanic with Finnair. ’’Navigation skills, knowledge of weather conditions and control of aerodynamics are essential tools for both pilot and yachtsman,” says Ari who has logged over 26,000 marine miles during 15 years of race sailing.

Ari finished 13th in the 4,100-mile Mini-Transat single-handed sailing competition in 1999. A Naps solar module had been installed as a part of the energy system on his boat then too. The autopilot steered the boat for 70% of the journey. It was the most important instrument on board and simultaneously the largest consumer of electricity. The solar electricity system cut fuel consumption by 30–40%, saving both weight and fuel costs. An added bonus was that the volume of fuel to be stored on board also decreased.

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