Solar Power Boat Sails in Rockland for Guinness Book, Reality TV

Capt. Jim Greer’s dreamboat sat bobbing in the water at the Nyack Boat Club this past weekend for a rest before continuing its journey north up the Hudson River.

According to USA Today, the idea to build a solar powered boat, now named “Ra,” came to the 72-year-old from Colorado Spring, Colo., who built his first vessel at 14, when he didn’t have enough money to fuel his boat for a ride.

Why not have the sun foot the bill, he thought.

Six years later, the 48-foot trimaran that carries 15 solar panels is ready to set some records. 

USA Today reports that Greer and three other strangers are sailing the Great Loop, a 6,000-mile stretch from Florida to the Eastern Seaboard, to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records for a TV show called “Solar Boat Chronicles.” 

The voyage is expected to be complete in September.

Read the whole story in USA Today here.