Almost forty participants at the DONG Energy Solar Challenge

The number of international participants has increased significantly with new participants from China, Finland, Turkey and the United States. The organization expects that the speed and quality of the solar boats will increase further.

Director Albert Bosscha of the DONG Energy Solar Challenge is glad with the number of international teams. ‘In 2010 there were already participants from Brazil, Germany, Poland and Belgium. Now China, Finland, Turkey and the United States joined too. This internationalization is a nice step forward.’

The participants compete in three classes, the Challenge A and B for one and two person boats and the Top class. Sponsor The Sun Factory will provide solar panels with more power than previous editions to the participants of the Challenge A and B. Thanks to this, Bosscha expects a very exciting fourth edition. ‘The speed of these Challenge classes will increase, this will make the difference with the Top class smaller. Also, we will change the restart locations of a few stages. These stages will be closer to the finish. Therefore the participants will finish closer to each other. This will make the race more spectacular for the public.’

According to Joris Melkert, head of the Technical Committee, not only the speed of the solar boats will increase. ‘Also the quality of several teams will take great steps forward. In 2010 only a few teams placed innovative hydrofoils on their solar boat, now more teams will take this step. I also think the hydrofoils which are now constructed, will be more reliable because there is more experience. A couple of solar boats will reach speeds of 35 km/h.’

The fourth edition of the DONG Energy Solar Challenge is from the 8 until July 2012. The race is divided in five stages of the traditional ice skating route along the Frisian eleven cities in the northern part of the Netherlands.