SY62 3-Deck solar electric catamaran, built by Silent Yachts, recently completed a transatlantic crossing, operating primarily on solar energy, battery storage, and electric propulsion.
The Silent 62-foot electric catamaran departed Gibraltar on November 14 and arrived in Antigua on December 12, following a route via Morocco, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. Silent 62 covered 3,800 nautical miles over four weeks at sea. Throughout the voyage, the crew shared daily data via a dedicated website and social channels. Owner of the Yacht, Jay Dollries, was delighted to have fulfilled his lifelong dream of crossing the Atlantic on his own yacht. His crew consisted of a close friend, a captain, a mechanical engineer, and Steve Bell, Chairman of Silent Yachts.
The voyage stands as a testament to the capability and reliability of solar-electric propulsion, with minimal fuel consumption on the open ocean. The crossing follows Silent Yachts’ first solar-powered Atlantic passage completed in 2018. A full summary of the 2025 voyage, with updates, is available on silentatlantic.com.
Silent Yachts notes that while it might be easy to equip a boat with solar panels, it is a far more complex process to create an electric yacht that fulfils the full potential of solar yachting – daily solar production, range, speed, consumption, space, and safety. Founders of Silent Yachts (formerly Solarwave), Michael and Heike Kohler, have been substituting generators with solar power and large battery banks to supply energy for vessels since the 1990s. After 30 years of starting their initial research, Silent Yachts remains a leader in electric yachting.
Silent Yachts has Global Office locations and Official Sales Partners in various locations, including Oaksmith Yachts in Seattle, Washington. You will find other electric boat manufacturers/dealers at the upcoming Seattle Boat Show including ARC Boats and Zin Electric Boats on display, along with Oaksmith Yachts. Check out the electric outboard motors, too, by Remigo.
Photo credit: Silent Yachts
