Before reaching Lorient, PlanetSolar stopped in Concarneau and was dry-docked for two weeks under the supervision of a technical team. The catamaran will now remain in Lorient until the end of September, according to a PlanetSolar news release, where it will undergo maintenance work as well as some transformation for its upcoming environmental campaign. The public can visit the boat over the summer in the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly museum.
The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is the world’s largest solar-powered catamaran. Around 512 square metres of solar panels produce up to 20 kilowatts of electricity, making the vessel energy independent. After sailing around the world in 2012, the 35-metre-long vessel was used as a research platform for the University of Geneva. The vessel has been owned by the Race for Water foundation since April 2015.