PlanetSolar superyacht designed by Kiwi firm

Auckland-based LOMOcean naval architects and yacht designers drew up plans for the radical $NZ36 million PlanetSolar superyacht, which is due to set off on a world-first, solar-powered, global circumnavigation attempt in April 2011.

LOMOcean director Craig Loomes didn’t know much about solar-power when his Auckland design company was approached to build a catamaran capable of circling the globe on no more than the sun’s rays.

Now he’s well aware of the cutting-edge solar technology that will propel his company LOMOcean’s design around the equator from April next year.

LOMOcean started work two years ago on the design of the PlanetSolar superyacht, unveiled in Germany in February.

The catamaran’s German owner and French and Swiss skippers say, at 31m long, 15m wide and weighing 75 tonnes, PlanetSolar is the largest solar-powered boat in the world.

Construction began in January 2009 at Knierim Yachtbau boatbuilders in Kiel, northern Germany, necessitating more than 100,000 man hours.

The catamaran features more than 500sqm of solar panels, but the design was not only about creating the first vessel to circle the globe on solar power.

After the circumnavigation challenge, PlanetSolar will be kitted out as a luxury vessel for use as an air-conditioned superyacht capable of hosting 50 guests and sleeping 12.

The boat has a price tag of around $NZ36 million.

A variety of challenges

PlanetSolar presented a variety of challenges for LOMOcean, not least of them creating a boat that was both technologically-advanced and luxurious enough for a second life as a luxury pleasurecraft.

LOMOcean is owned by former boat builder-turned-designer Craig Loomes, his wife Kirsty, who is the company’s financial controller, and composite structural engineer and business mind André Moltschaniwskyj.

The company grew out of Craig Loomes’ childhood love affair with boats. He built boats after leaving school, and, over the years, became recognised for a flair with design and build projects.

He designed and built a range of yachts and powerboats – from fizzboats, to plywood kitsets, to the “Tournament’ brand of sport-fishing vessels.

About 12 years ago, he got so busy designing boats he no longer had the time to build them. “I still have yearnings to go and create something with my own hands.”

But the emerging design opportunities were invigorating and brought new challenges and a new kind of satisfaction.