Page 10 - MidWeek Windward - June 16, 2021

10 JUNE 16, 2021
Self-sufficient Catamaran Docks At Kāne‘ohe Yacht Club
BY LIANNE BIDAL THOMPSON
A sailing laboratory docked at Kāneʻohe Yacht Club last week and it may just be a har- binger of sustainability.
The Energy Observer, a self-sufficient catamaran had just completed its Pacific Ocean leg of a worldwide jour- ney, called The Odyssey, that will end in Paris, just in time for the 2024 Olympics.
Energy Observer arrived at Kāne‘ohe Yacht Club on May 29 after a 15-day journey from San Francisco. Crew members Katia Nicolet, Agathe Roullin, George County, Vincent Reynaud and captain Marin Jerry were welcomed with lei. PHOTOS COURTESY ENERGY OBSERVER
The Energy Observer is a nonprofit project founded in 2013 by Victorien Erussard. He formed a team to build the first energetically autonomous vessel capable of sailing using only renewable energies.
Over Memorial Day week- end, club members and their keiki toured the vessel and learned about the science be- hind its energy sources.
cal dignataries and those in- terested in renewable energy also visited the catamaran.
That vision was realized in 2017. The catamaran uses hy- drogen, solar and wind power to traverse the seas.
The docking allowed the crew to refresh and the ves- sel could plug in to the club’s electricity. Energy Observer paid a nominal fee, which will be used to support the yacht club’s green activities
“We hope that our project, proving that renewables are safe and reliable, will inspire others to view energy differ- ently; to stop looking only at fossil fuel, but expand their horizons to all other sources: the wind, the waves, the sun and the thermal energy of the earth and ocean,” Nico- let explains.
The vessel left San Francis- co for its trek across the Pacif- ic Ocean on May 14, and was welcomed at Kāneʻohe Yacht Club 15 days later by commo- dore Pete Stokka and port cap- tain Kyle Morton.
“It was an exciting feel- ing to finally see the land! The welcome at the Kaneohe Yacht Club also exceeded our expectations,” states onboard scientist, Katia Nicolet.
For now, Energy Ob- server — crewed by cap- tain Marin Jarry, boatswain George Conty, system engi- neer Vincent Reynaud, on- board reporter Agathe Rou- llin, and Nicolet — sails the islands, with stops on Maui and Hawai‘i Island. Learn more and follow its Odyssey at energy-observer.org.
“This is a very big thing because the Kāneʻohe Yacht Club is in the midst of imple- menting a strategic plan, and one of the goals is the greening or sustainability of the yacht club over the next 10 years,” says Andrew Bates, member of the Kāneʻohe Yacht Club Fleet Operations Committee.
“It was a gift to our yacht club,” Bates adds, saying that many who toured the catama- ran will be tracking its prog- ress online as it continues on its worldwide tour.
True to its mission, many lo-
FREE CUP OF COFFEE WITH PURCHASE
TAKE-OUT AVAILABLE!
It’s Time to Beat the Heat!
We do it right the first time
Best Prices Guaranteed With Installation of the Same Equipment
Free Estimates on Split Systems WE SERVICE WHAT WE INSTALL
We also sell Window & Thru the Wall A/C’s & Flush Mount A/C’s
GOD BLESS AMERICA
VETERAN OWNED
LIC# C-19622 & C-31915
HONOLULU LEEWARD KAIMUKI MILILANI WINDWARD 537-1971 676-1455 737-1852 625-5666 262-6163 Call for an Appointment www.aireconditionershoppe.com
(808) 763-9298
10% OFF SOLAR PV CLEANING
Expires 6/30/21
w
w
ww
w
w
w
w
w
w.p
p
p
pa
a
a
a
c
c
c
i
i
ifi
fi
fi
fi
c
c
cs
s
s
s
p
p
p
pr
ray
w
a
s
sh
h.c
co
om
DID YOU
BEFORE
AFTER
You can improve energy output by over 10%* with regular cleanings,
KNOW??
compared to panels cleaned only by rainfall.
HAWAIIAN AND JAPANESE FOODS SASHIMI POKE BENTO ETC.
Breakfast Special!
$ 8.95 Must present coupon.
Expires 6/30/21.
45-582 Kamehameha Hwy Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 235-6129
#410 Gas