10th December 2025 1200 GMT

December 10, 2025

Just over 300 nm to run to Antigua

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12 Comments

Trevor Crump on December 10, 2025 at 2:50 pm

Cool👍🏻 Have you used a kite? How many hours per day on average have you had to run the generator? How are the swells…has it been a fairly smooth crossing?
Reply
- Steve Bell on December 10, 2025 at 6:22 pm
  
  We have used the kite; it worked great for a while, saved us 15 kW every hour we flew it. Unfortunately, we have some communication issues. We are seeking support from the manufacturers. For long oceanic passages, it’s a great option. Not really for short trips.
  Reply
Fritz-Jochen Weber on December 10, 2025 at 3:44 pm

Hello Steve,

thank you for sharing your Altantic Crossing. Good, that you have friendly weather so far.

I would like to talk with you about your experience with the energy management.

You know, we have a Silent 55 since end of 2022 and made some 6000 miles with it. I collected a lot of data in my own system Yachtmemory about all technical and environmental data on the three CAN-buses on the boat. So, I have perfect data about energy consumption of the propulsion. With a clean boat we need about 22kW at 6 knots. (look there: https://www.silent-sea.de/effizienzmessungen.html) . I assume, your 62 has at least 20tons more than our 55, so, you need 35+ kW at 6.5 knots. That means, that your solar impact is enough for the household an mybe a few miles per day.
If these assumptions are correct, you need 35*24=840kWh per day for propulsion. Your Gen delivers 100kW. There are losses at the batteries. So I think, your Gen is running more than 9 hours per day. Right?
Alle the Best!
Fritz
Reply
- Steve Bell on December 10, 2025 at 4:24 pm
  
  Hi Fritz,
  Thanks for your message. We are around 50 tonnes loaded.
  
  Here is a snapshot of a day:
  
  6.5 knots at 400 RPM using between 24 and 26 kW so say 600 kWh during a 24-hour period
  
  The hotel load, including air conditioning at night, is about 60 kWh but this varies too.
  
  Solar gain is about 50 kWh
  
  DCDC is around 50 kWh
  
  Nett usage is around 660 kWh.
  
  The generator is currently running just under 7.5 hours during a 24-hour period.
  We were running slower, which substantially reduced the generator run time, but the owner wanted to arrive in Antigua this week!
  We are logging every bit of data and will publish all of this on arrival in Antigua.
  
  What is interesting is the wave and swell effect on the kWh burn of the motors.
  
  Appreciate your interest and comments
  
  Steve
  Reply
  - Aaron on December 10, 2025 at 6:11 pm
    
    There is no doubt that energy use for trans-Atlantic crossing is going to be a lot more than island hopping in the Caribbean. However, I’m a bit surprised to see total solar KWh capture peaking in the mid 50’s per day and the hotel load actually being more than that. I understand that there are all kinds of variables both in production and in use, looking forward to an overall look at the entire trip, fuel usage, hotel vs propelling. Thanks for sharing your journey!
    Reply
    - Steve Bell on December 10, 2025 at 6:36 pm
      
      Hi Aaron
      
      We appreciate your interaction. Interestingly, we chose to disclose exactly how much solar gain we achieve using 16.8 kWp of panels. The numbers are not guesswork; they are factual. Many yacht builders choose not to disclose solar gain or simply exaggerate figures. It’s winter in the northern hemisphere, and the sun’s highest point is 23 degrees south of the equator. I have seen over 100 kWh in one of our Silent 62 yachts in Croatia last June.
      
      We want the reputation of honesty on how our yachts perform. This started over a year ago with our 3rd-party performance testing by BoatTest.com
      
      Please keep following us!
      
      Steve
      Reply
      - Fritz-Jochen Weber on December 14, 2025 at 12:13 am
        
        I see the same on our Boat. Steve is right. Our Silent is actually in Sicily and I see similar numbers. Solar energy is fine, when the sun is high. In Mannheim, Germany, a little more to north, I see on our solar systems in November less than a tenth of the energy we have in June.
      - Steve Bell on December 14, 2025 at 2:10 pm
        
        Thanks for the comments Fritz. we will post all the data in the next few days
Ray Shindledecker on December 10, 2025 at 3:47 pm

How much of the kite % wise during a 24 hour period are you using? Only daylight?
Reply
- Steve Bell on December 10, 2025 at 4:27 pm
  
  Unfortunately, we have destroyed all three kites due to some communication issues between the kite system and the actual sensor installed in the kite. This didn’t really allow us to fully test the kite; however, when it flew, it saved us 15 kWh. I am not sure we would be brave enough to fly the kite at night
  Reply
  - Michael Uttley on December 10, 2025 at 7:53 pm
    
    How much extra speed does the kite provide when deployed?
    Reply
    - Steve Bell on December 10, 2025 at 8:53 pm
      
      Hi Michael, have a look at the video interviews with Boomies where we explain how the kite performed.
      Thanks
      Reply