Raphaël Domjan
President & Skipper

Gérard d'Aboville
Navigator & Skipper

PlanetSolar's founder is a man of conviction. At the age of 37, Raphaël Domjan conceived the PlanetSolar concept, and he has done everything possible since to turn his dream into reality. Someone who genuinely "dabbles in everything", Raphaël Domjan wears several hats and increases activities he takes part in that are closely connected to man and nature: an ambulance driver, high mountain guide, rescue specialist in perilous environments etc. Passion is what drives him on!

The PlanetSolar project, an extraordinary technological and human challenge, is also an expression of the world-view of Raphaël Domjan and of the team he has built around him: our planet deserves a better, brighter and less polluted future. Future technologies must be keenly investigated and solutions must be found. The project will help to motivate engineers and scientists to develop innovative technologies, inspire people around the world, and show that the impossible can become possible.

Gérard d'Aboville is one of the great names in recent maritime history.  In 1980 he became the first person to successfully row across the Atlantic Ocean, and with that became a living nautical legend.  Eleven years later, he continued his exploits by rowing across the Pacific Ocean, despite capsizing several times in atrocious sea conditions.

His adventures have been published in many enthralling works that recount not only the sporting exploit, but also the human achievement of the solitary rower. D'Aboville continues to navigate, but now devotes more time to another great passion — it could be called a vocation — his dedication to the marine environment.  He is directly involved as the President of France's boating and watersports authority.

Involved in the project since the beginning, Gérard d'Aboville puts all his experience of the sea and the ocean to the service of PlanetSolar. Aware of the current issues affecting our planet he feels very strongly about promoting renewable energies and contributing in his way to developing peoples' mentalities as far as the environment is concerned.