We’ve previously blogged about the success of the CLAFIS Victron Energy Solar Boat Team and this year the news is just as good.
Success is hard won though – it’s down to the team, the planning and the execution of that plan. Here then is how this year’s Monaco event panned out.
Early last Tuesday morning four team members, along with the solar boat Furia III, drove down to Monaco.
Furia III arrived at the Yacht Club de Monaco on Wednesday in readiness for the 2017 Monaco Solar & Electric Boat Challenge, with the boat technical inspection taking place on Thursday. 
The remainder of the team flew down from the Netherlands in perfect time for the race briefing on Thursday evening at 6.00pm – not forgetting the welcome cocktail party after that!
Friday at 10.00am saw the first part of the racing, the Endurance Fleet Race. This consists of the first boat to complete 50 laps wins the race, with one lap being 0.5 of a nautical mile. Furia III finished in first place with the second placed boat in the class completing only 30 laps in that time.
Furia III
At 3.00pm it was time for some press photos in the harbour and along the coast with the other boats.
Racing continued at 4.00pm with the International YCM Speed Record attempt. In 2016 the team broke the record with of 47 km/h, setting a new record of 49.10 km/h over a distance of one eight of a nautical mile (231.5m). Unfortunately we couldn’t break the record again this year, but on the other hand neither did anyone else, so the record still stands.
Here is an impressive video of this year’s YCM Speed Record event.
The following day was the Course Slalom event at 10.00am. Furia III had two attempts to set a time. The second run was the fastest lap with a time of of 1:11.5.
Between that event and the subsequent Speed Contests (a one on one duel) the team took a RIB out in order to take some press photos.
Having fun…
Furia III and one of the many Monaco Superyachts…
At 14.00pm the Speed Contests started, one hour earlier than the program indicated. This One on One Sprint Championship Race proved both challenging and exciting – but first place was secured.
After the races there was an International Motorsport & Environment Workshop organised by the international Powerboating Federation (UIM). Furia III Skipper (Gerard van der Schaar) told a story about the Solar Boat and how that resulted in starting their own business, after making an initial solar boat.
Saturday evening saw the fruition of the team’s efforts with the prize-giving and a Gala dinner.
Prizegiving
Gala dinner and time to relax…
Conclusion
Once again many congratulations to the team. Victron Energy are delighted to sponsor and have a part to play in their success.
Our thanks to Evelien Rooda from the team for the images and information in this blog. If you’d like to know more, you can check out the Clafis Victron Energy Solar Boat Team on Facebook.
