Planetsolar

Log book

• day 587 - 05.06.2012

Weather conditions : rainy day with sunny spells at the end of the day.

Distance covered during the last 24 hours (from 20 o'clock till 20 o'clock): 0 nautical mile (0 km)

LAST BLOG OF THE PLANETSOLAR ADVENTURE

I am sitting in the cockpit of PlanetSolar, I feel so glad to have successfully completed this first world tour with solar energy, however, I also start to feel nostalgic about leaving PlanetSolar and not sharing our adventures with you anymore.
Crossing the finish line was so intense that we are still on cloud nine... we will still need some time to realise that we actually achieved this journey around the world with solar energy.

Saturday was a unique moment, what a great feeling to be with all the people who supported this adventure. I also think about our families and friends. The prince Albert II, our patrons Jacques Rougerie and Serge Rhoetheli, as well as Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, founders of Solar Impulse.

I thank all the people who helped us in this adventure, from the start in 2004 until today. I also thank all of you who followed us and supported us during this extraordinary journey.

We will be attending the European Solar Days in Marseille on Wednesday. We will be there for three days. On Saturday, Erwann, Christian, Jens and myself will make our last trip on board PlanetSolar. We will bring the world's largest solar ship to the harbour of La Ciotat most likely.

MS Turanor PlanetSolar, the first and only solar vehicle to have achieved a circumnavigation, will depart this summer to make some stopovers in the Mediterranean Sea. By doing so, it will keep promoting the potential of renewable energies. More details about its long-term future will be known in the next months, but there is no doubt that it will continue its way thanks to the sun's energy and it will thus continue to bring the message of this unbelievable adventure.

In a few days, we are going to take all our belongings from the cabins where we have been living for almost two years. We are also taking many memories with us.

Erwann will stay for a few days in France with his family before going back to Canada to find his girlfriend. After these vacations, he intends to be back on the sea as captain on board cruise liners.

Patrick is already sailing on board the yacht « Boréal », a cabin cruiser belonging to the Ponant company.

Jens will be heading back home in North Germany where PlanetSolar was built. So far, he plans to enjoy some holidays in the area, but I think we will see him soon involved in a marine adventure.

Christian will spend some time in the Swiss mountains and enjoy some vacations there. With the experience as engineer on board PlanetSolar, there is no doubt that he will keep working in the field of renewable energy development.

As far as I am concerned, I will be going back home this weekend, following the Napoleonic road to the lake of Neuchatel in Switzerland where I will meet with my girlfriend, my family and my friends. First, I will recharge my batteries. But the adventure goes on with the SolarPlanet foundation. Indeed, we are going to shoot a 52min long documentary about the adventure « PlanetSolar » which should be aired for the first time next fall. We are also going to write a book on this adventure together with Roger Jaunin. There are many stories, adventures, and expeditions to be written with solar ink. We will soon meet again for new and even more ambitious adventures.

Jules Verne once said « One day man will be destroying everything or else will be saving everything ». After having achieved this first world tour with solar energy, I am even more convinced that our civilisation is capable of the best.

Tomorrow's world will reflect today's wisdom.

Dear friends, it is now time to say goodbye until our next adventure. But continue to support us and promote the vision of a better world. Together, nothing is impossible.

Thank you and good luck to you all.
Raphaël and the team of PlanetSolar.