PlanetSolar was designed by the naval architect from New Zealand, Craig Loomes, and financed by the German entrepreneur, Immo Ströher. She started her build in 2008 in Kiel, Germany in the Knierim Yachtbau shipyard. PlanetSolar took shape and turned into a giant catamaran, the world’s largest ever built.

With a futuristic appearance the giant solar vessel was nevertheless entirely designed and fitted out with the latest technology. In fact, it was very important to Raphaël Domjan to prove that technologies did exist for achieving solar energy exploits and that they already had immense potential. All the materials, components and instruments used in PlanetSolar are therefore available on the market.

On 25 February 2010 more than 200 guests attended the unveiling of PlanetSolar in Kiel. Shortly afterwards, on 31 March, the largest catamaran in the world felt the lap of the water for the first time in Kiel, to the unconcealed emotion of the team which had made this moment possible. After sea trials she was ferried to the Mediterranean, ready to start her circumnavigation adventure.