Windsurfer with space technology

The windsurfer used by Raphaela Le Gouvello to cross the Pacific Ocean in about 80 days is a specially built board, designed by Guy Saillard from Ploemeur. Overall length is 7.80 metres with 6.80 in the water, midship width is 1.30 metres and the total weight reaches an approximately 550 kg. It is built of epoxy resin and carbon fibre with airex foam and internal partitions in honeycomb. 12-volt batteries are mounted within a watertight compartment inside the board together with VHF-radio, GPS-navigation system and the Iridium satellite telephone. Flexible solar cells are mounted on top of the board to reload the batteries.