May 09, 2007 — By Associated Press

BASEL, Switzerland -- A Swiss-built solar vessel completed the first sun-powered crossing of the Atlantic Tuesday when it arrived at its final destination in New York, the group behind the project said.

Dubbed "sun21," the catamaran reached North Cove Marina after a journey of over 8,000 miles from Chipiona, Spain, to the Caribbean island of Martinique and then along the U.S. East Coast to New York.

The 46-foot boat produced 2,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy during its voyage, the transatlantic21 group behind the effort said in a statement. The group said this showed the crossing could be made entirely without fuel.

"This proves that in our modern society it is indeed possible to travel the world efficiently and still safeguard the environment," said the boat's skipper, Michael Thonney.

Source: Associated Press