Vittoria Energy

On Sunday afternoon I joined my daughter Amy at the Preservation Society Museum to chat with three young men who are on a sailing adventure. Nathan, Bond, and Karl, representatives of Vittoria Energy, a 501(c)(3) organization, are sailing from Washington, DC, to Cuba on a 1985 31' Hunter sloop refitted as a renewable-powered sailing ship.

The Vittoria

According to their web site, "Exploring the world and how we power it, Vittoria Energy Expedition educates travel-inspired audiences about current renewable energy innovations that not only fuel, but empower lives. We work at the intersection of technology, business, and policy, to inform the public discussion around energy decisions at home and in our communities."

The Vittoria is, of course, a sailboat, so wind is their primary source of energy. However, they have removed the vessel's auxiliary diesel engine and replaced it with a 25 HP electric motor.

The motor and other electric devices on board are powered by five solar panels and eight 260 Ah batteries operating in a 48 volt system.

Nathan, Bond, Karl, and other members of their organization had some previous sailing experience, but they had little technical knowledge in electronics. They had to learn from experience.

The Vittoria will be leaving Ocracoke as soon as they have fair winds. We wish them well on their journey to Cuba...and on their journey to promote clean, renewable energy for our communities.

For more information, please visit their web site: vittoriaenergy.org. 

Our current Ocracoke Newsletter is a 1938 article about Capt. Gary Bragg, waterfowl hunting, and wooden decoy carving. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112116.htm.