As you know, on Startin' Sport, we love nature and we also love water activities. With the help of our friends and partners at SeaZen , we are going to show you that it is possible to combine boat trips and ecology with a brand new concept .
Eco-mobility is a concept that emerged recently following the oil crises and environmental awareness. Many manufacturers have bet on electric mobility .
In the automotive industry , manufacturers must deal with the problem of autonomy and recycling of lithium batteries. Alas, lithium is a scarce and limited resource. The means put into play are up to the challenges and there is no doubt that the solutions will emerge.
In the aviation industry , the challenge still seems difficult to meet. It took more than 100 million Euros for the Solar Impulse project to allows a person to fly around the world on a solar plane. However, the sector is very dynamic and many projects are also appearing.
In the nautical world , and we tend to forget it as we are so familiar with it, sailing is a good student and no longer has much to prove, proof of this is with the many very fashionable sailing destinations.
However, some seas, such as the Mediterranean, suffer from irregular winds, which means that many sailboats operate most of the time with a motor, which limits their eco-navigation benefits . However, if there is a means of transport that can be a precursor to the energy transition, it is the pleasure boat.
By definition, a pleasure boat does not need to go fast. It is not a tool for transport but for leisure. For some, boating allows you to walk around a corner of your home while discovering the coast from the sea, in complete tranquility . We are going to talk about a sea trip provided you go at least at the speed of a hiker. That's good, since energy consumption is exponential with speed, a quiet boat necessarily has a lower energy requirement.
Thanks to the progress made in marine electric motorization, eco-navigation naturally finds its place in the yachting landscape of the 21st century.
We find several levels of eco-navigating boats. First there is the hybrid boat . This is a first step forward that minimizes motor consumption.
Then comes the 100% electric boat , which definitively solves the problem of CO2 but which is necessarily limited by the autonomy of its batteries . This boat is common on lakes and rivers due to the gradual ban on thermal boats.
Then come the electric boats equipped with photovoltaic panel(s) . Depending on the navigation program, it is not necessarily necessary to completely cover the boat with photovoltaic panels. All you have to do is plan breaks at anchor to reload and then return to port.
We can talk about solar boats when the match between the navigation program and the design of the boat makes it possible to navigate over a period of operation without having to use the mains to recharge the batteries . In addition, solar autonomy provides much greater safety at sea than a boat simply equipped with a battery bank.
The other advantage of the solar boat is that it has excellent energy efficiency . So while it takes a powerful engine to transport eight people in thermal, it becomes possible to do so in solar with a power of less than 6 HP.
It is therefore not necessary to have a boating license to sail on large capacity solar boats . Of course, without a license does not mean without a minimum training. Solar boating is very similar to sailing boating, but much simpler.
In addition, some navigation areas in the Mediterranean are very easy to access and allow you to navigate safely after about an hour of training according to the boater's profile.
This is how the Côte d'Azur is on the way to becoming the world cradle of solar boating. The most ambitious solution is located in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, between Nice and Monaco. A young start-up, SeaZen , has taken up the challenge of offering a 100% solar-powered catamaran .
The choice of the boat stopped on the Suncy19 , a pleasant floating living room of 12m2 already produced in 10 copies. Thanks to SeaZen , the boat is accessible without a license for up to 8 people and for a reasonable cost.
In fact, it is difficult to compare the cost of eco-navigation with traditional yachting . It's another way of sailing, zen and respectful of the environment, without odor, without noise, and without the cost of fuel. SeaZen offers solar boat rides for initiation.
For happy walkers wishing to become solar boaters , they can then become a member of the Boat Club . Training support in 4 levels allows them to adapt the navigation program to their level.
The Boat Club corresponds well to new uses because it allows you to benefit from the advantages of boat ownership without suffering the disadvantages . The formula with subscription is widespread in the United States. In recent months, many offers have emerged in France. SeaZen stands out for its formula without and with its solar boat offer.
You are well briefed on ecological navigation and solar yachting in France .
