(With extra pictures and videos) Clafis Private Energy Solar Boat Team (T63) has won the Dong Energy Solar Challenge 2014. The team won every stage.
In 2010 this team won the race as well. ‘This time we wanted to win all stages. And we did! It was a tough week. We had some problems with the boat and we had to work hard to get everything working right in time. So this is fantastic,' says a very happy Gerard van der Schaar, pilot of the boat.
Design Award for TU Delft
Despite their new boat using the cycling principle, the TU Delft Solar Boat Team finished in fourth place. They did win the Design Award as their radically new design had the biggest wow-factor according to the jury.
In the Challenge A and B, the win went to the Polish teams. In the Challenge A in particular the competition was thrilling. At last, Scigrip Solar Boat Team (A22) from Poland won the last part of the stage.
Innovation, Bad Luck, Fair Play and Encouragement
This year, the Innovation Award went to an entire class instead of to a team. The V20 class was awarded this prize because the entire class represents innovation. 'The boats show the potential for the future,' said head of the Technical Commission, Joris Melkert. The Netherlands Royal Navy entered a team into the competition for the first time. They participated in the V20 class and finished third.
The team with the most bad luck was the SDOG Racing Team (T68), which earned them the Bad Luck Prize. Their boat completely burned down just before the start of the race on Sunday. They were back in the race on Wednesday with their old boat.
The Fair Play Prize went to HvA Solarteam. They distinguished themselves by helping other teams on several occasions.
The Solarteam Friese Poort Sneek went home with the Encouragement Award. They were the only ones in the Challenge A that dared to use hydrofoils.
Wubbo Ockels Award
This year's race saw some new elements such as the event Young Solar, the mass start, the sprint and the endurance. In addition, the Wubbo Ockels Award was presented for the first time. Ockels is one of the promoters of the solar powered boats and passed away in June. The prize was awarded to Bouwe de Boer, as a driver of sustainable initiatives and initiator of the race.
The next World Cup for Solar Powered Boats takes place in 2016 and will start in Amsterdam. The boats will then cross the IJsselmeer.
Picture above: Winner Clafis won all stages.
Below two videos of the Dong Energy Solar Challenge as well as some extra pictures (please click the pop-out link (the little squares at the bottom right) to view the pictures in their proper dimensions).
Results
Top class
- T63: CLAFIS Private Energy Solar Boat Team – 7.03.12
- T66: Team Gowrings Energy – 10.39.20
- T64: Midnight Sun KYAMK – 11.11.37
Challenge A
- A22:Scigrip Solar Boat Team – 14.29.35
- A19: NHL Solarboat Racing – 14.33.53
- A20: Sinnergy Solar Team – 15.47.21
Challenge B
- B46: GUT Solar – 15.24.34
- B44: Solarteam ROCvA – 17.28.34
- B45: HvA Solarteam – 17.40.48
V20
- V84: DC Solar Team – 21.15.49
- V83: Achterhoek – 21.29.50
- V81: Koninklijke Marine Solar Team – 1.16.53.55
All footage by Dong Energy Solar Challenge.
