Challenge A – 11 till 15
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A11. Energa Solar I, Gdansk, Poland Look here, the old hands of the Solar Challenge. The team from the Gdansk University of Technology is taking part for the third time this year, and in no fewer than two classes (B5, Energa Solar II). Yet the six Poles remain humble. Spokesman Wojciech Litwin: ‘We’ll be happy to get through the race with no problems or accidents.’ But maybe this modesty is actually a tactic because when you are taking part for the third time, you have a wealth of experience. One to keep an eye on, then. |
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A12. Graafschap College, Doetinchem, The Netherlands The Graafschap College team has designed a trimaran to enter the race. The eight students in the team are taking part in the Frisian Solar Challenge for the first time but there has been a solar boat project at their college before. In other words, this team has drawn greatly on their predecessors’ experience to build this boat and are therefore optimistic about the outcome. ‘We think we have built a fast and reliable boat so that we can complete the race,’ says Paul Hendriks. |
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A13.Catalao, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil No fewer than three teams will be representing the UFRJ (Unversitade Federal do Rio Janeiro) this year. One of the teams, Copacabana II (A24) first entered the race in 2008. The other two, Team Ipanema (A9) and Vento Nordeste (A27) are coming to jazz up the atmosphere of the race. The three teams all work with the Polo Náutico. ‘This is a maritime research laboratory specialising in the construction of small boats. All three are single-handed boats and all the hulls are different shapes, looking for the most efficient propulsion,’ says the spokesman of the three teams. |
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A14. Stille Wateren, Heemskerk, The Netherlands The name of the team, ‘Stille Wateren’ or still waters, could be considered rather ambiguous. Is the team hoping for good weather during the race so that the water remains calm? Or is this a team to which the phrase “still waters run deep” applies? So is it a subtle reference to their hidden power? They have built a boat with a flat aluminium bottom. ‘We are expecting to have a cup in our hands at the end of the week,’ says spokesman Robin van Werkhoven. This five-person team is entering the Frisian Solar Challenge for the first time. |
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A15. HZ Engineering, Vlissingen, The Netherlands For the team from Vlissingen, the atmosphere in the team is really important. The group comprises 16 men and women and is divided into 3 sub-groups, one for logistics, one for the technology and one for communications. Robert van der Pol was appointed team manager to make sure everything runs smoothly. And he is optimistic about the performance of the carbon fibre monohull: ‘I’d like to get a top three placing in the Frisian Solar Challenge. It should be possible providing we keep a good eye on the technical details. As the manager, I also think it is very important to contribute to the best possible co-operation between the team members. As long as the atmosphere and co-operation are good!’ |
| A 1 till 5 | | A 6 till 10 | | A 11 till15 | | A 16 till 20 | | A 21 till 26 |
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