Recognition for work accomplished
The award won by Solar Cloth System and UK Sails France for the Power Sails is the fruit of work begun on the 2014 Route du Rhum alongside the 50-foot Défi Martinique. This yacht is the first to benefit from the Power Sails system. It demonstrates on the transatlantic race and beyond the reliability of the photovoltaic sensor device integrated into the sails developed by the French sailmaker. "After 4,000 miles in real-life conditions, the equipment is still working today," says Alain Janet, head of UK Sails France.
Since then, the product has won over a number of American and European shipyards, including J-Boats US, Arcona, Oyster and Elan, as they work towards the zero-emissions boat.
Presented by J-Boats at the Newport and Annapolis boat shows, it caught the eye of the Pittman Award jury.
The Pittman Award: US boating industry prize
Created in honor of Freeman K. Pittman, the magazine's former editor, and organized annually by Sail Magazine, the Pittman Award recognizes innovative equipment presented during the year. Unlike the METS DAME Award, for which the product has to be unveiled at the show - which is why Power Sail was unable to compete - the nominees are chosen by the journalists on the jury. They then evaluate the product on site. The prize is then announced in the columns of the newspaper.
"I learned of our award by chance on the Internet", says Alain Janet. "It's always a pleasure, because the road to innovation is long, costly and tortuous. Besides, a European winning an award on the other side of the Atlantic is like winning in Hollywood - it's not easy!"
Planned developments in the boating sector and elsewhere...
On biminis, in sails, as an energy source for zero-emission sailboats fitted with electric motors, the prospects for Power Sail are manifold.
Solar Cloth System has outlets beyond the deep blue sea. From autonomous greenhouse projects to aeronautics, the possibilities are endless!
