A striking vessel, the Helios 11, has arrived in Almería capital after a journey from Finland, powered exclusively by solar panels. The boat, which was sailing slowly through the Cabo de Gata - Níjar Natural Park, caused surprise among bathers in Cabo de Gata, who initially speculated it might be a drug-trafficking vessel due to its unusual shape and the absence of a visible cabin.
On Monday morning, the same vessel reached the El Zapillo area, where it encountered a Civil Guard patrol boat. Contrary to initial speculation, the Helios 11 does not belong to any criminal organization but is an exploration yacht hand-built by its sole crew member, the Nordic adventurer Lukas Sjöman.
This peculiar yacht, measuring 11 meters in length and constructed from plywood and fiberglass, moves solely on the energy from the solar panels installed on its upper deck, giving it its characteristic flat shape. The Helios 11 has traveled over 3,000 nautical miles from its origin in Finland. Daily, it can cover approximately 145 miles.
After anchoring in Mazarrón, having come from the coast of Tarragona, Sjöman headed towards the Mar de Alborán. On Sunday, it passed through Cabo de Gata and arrived in Almería capital on Monday morning. The yacht uses no gasoline engine and requires no refueling stops, as the solar panels recharge the batteries faster than the motor consumes power, using less electricity than a blender while sailing.
The encounter with the Civil Guard in Almería capital has not been the only setback on its journey. Sjöman suffered the theft of his auxiliary dinghy in San Carlos de la Rápita, in Tarragona, forcing him to build a new one on the spot. The Helios 11's route continues after its passage through Almería, where its unique sun-powered vessel generated astonishment.
