World Tour in a Wind and Solar Powered Catamaran

Doing a world tour in a wind and solar powered catamaran for more than three years, without the slightest fuel emissions, to show that it is possible to go without fossil fuels on a sailboat. The World Eco Sail departure is scheduled for September 2016 if funding is secured.

Trained as an engineer, Jean-Marc Simiand was very early attracted to navigation. His father, a lover of scuba diving, taught Simiand navigation at sea from a young age. A report in Thalassa magazine in 2007 showing families setting sail to tour the world inspired him for an adventure to tour the world with energy independence.

At an earlier time, lead batteries could not  store enough energy, but the arrival of lithium-ion batteries in the automotive industry has changed what is possible. In 2010, while working for Renault on a project on electrical systems, Simiand came to the conclusion that the implementation of this technology on a catamaran could be achieved.

The route charted will follow the classic journey of circumnavigators. It notably includes a passage through the Panama Canal, for more than 40 nautical miles, without the help of wind. To overcome the obstacle, Simiand chose batteries that store energy for the whole crossing, while preserving the balance and performance of the catamaran.

The project thus aims to show the boating industry that a future is possible without thermic power, despite that no manufacturer currently offers any solution in electrical series. Jean-Marc wants to share his journey with those who have participated in the financing of the project and call on the experience of renowned skippers to accompany him on this adventure.