The 19 metre long Solarkat Silent Yachts SY62 3-Deck Open "100%" has arrived in Antigua. The voyage began in Gibraltar in mid-November and the route led from Gibraltar via Morocco, the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands to the Caribbean. The flagship SY 80.
The aim was not to be as fast as possible, but to travel with the power of the sun and wind and use as little diesel as possible. With wind? Yes, there were three soft kites with a surface area of ten square metres on board, which also enrich other Silent Yachts in a similar way. Silent 60 plus kite.
A very personal journey of the owner
For owner Jay Dollries, the venture was far more than just a technological experiment - it fulfilled his long-standing dream of crossing the Atlantic on his own yacht. He had been preparing for this adventure for four years.
He was accompanied on board by his long-time friend and adventure partner Randy Lane and Will Mitchell, the captain of the "100%", for whom this was the first Atlantic crossing. The crew was completed by mechanical engineer and kite specialist Michael Scherdel and Steve Bell, Deputy Chairman of Silent Yachts. This was Bell's third Atlantic crossing, but his first on board a Silent Yachts catamaran.
Technology under real conditions
The Atlantic crossing provided the perfect opportunity to test all of the Cat's systems under real-life conditions. Four key technologies formed the backbone of the voyage: highly efficient solar panels that generated 50-60 kWh on optimal days, liquid-cooled LFP batteries that powered both the propulsion and on-board systems and, of course, the electric motors.
In addition, there was a diesel generator that was used to recharge the batteries when there was not enough solar energy available. Depending on the speed, the daily energy requirement was between 350 and 600 kWh. Towards the end of the journey, however, the crew also started up the range extenders "because they wanted to arrive a few days earlier", reveals Steve Bell in an interview.
The kites didn't last long
Unfortunately, the fifth technology was not used as planned, and all three kites were broken after a relatively short time. "It didn't work as we thought it would. Very disappointing," says Bell. However, the additional propulsion was noticeable during the short flight times: the kite saved around 15 kilowatts of e-power - and theoretically 100 litres of diesel per day.
Nevertheless, the crew were able to learn a few things about handling, and setting and hauling in was also a good activity on the long journey. According to Bell, kite surfing was also tried out in the middle of the ocean.
Transparent data acquisition
The world was able to follow what was happening on board in practically real time. Silent Yachts openly shared daily data on solar yield, consumption and system performance on a website (www.silentatlantic.com) and on social media. Photos and videos show the crew fishing and handling the kites.
In addition, extensive operating data was collected during the crossing that goes far beyond what could be communicated in real time. Silent Yachts is now analysing this data and will publish it in the coming weeks.
Life on board the Silent Yachts 62
"Life on board was quiet," remarked Steve Bell. "Relaxed cruising, shared meals and long conversations, moments of silence looking at the horizon and evenings with some TV when the weather permitted." The crew kept to a simple daily routine, with workouts on the flybridge and regular system checks.
Strong signal to the yachting world
Silent Yachts was the first shipyard to complete a solar-powered Atlantic crossing in 2018 with the Silent 64. The successful voyage of the "100%" reaffirms the company's mission to enable independence at sea through clean technology. "Very few owners will ever cross an ocean," said Bell. "But knowing that their yacht can do so sustainably, reliably and with minimal fuel consumption offers real peace of mind."
Technical data SY 62 3-Deck Open:
- Length: 18.9 m
- Solar output: 50-60 kWh on optimal days
- Daily energy requirement: 350-600 kWh (depending on speed)
- Drive: Electric motors with diesel generators
- Battery type: liquid-cooled LFP batteries
