For many boating enthusiasts, an Atlantic Crossing is a bucket-list item they hope to cross off one day. This holds true for Jay Dollries, who dreamt that he would someday take his boat across the Atlantic. Now Jay and his friend Randy Lane are accomplishing this trans-Atlantic dream by in a unique way. What makes this voyage so different from other transatlantic voyages? It is taking place aboard Dollries’ Silent 62 3-Deck 100%, which is powered electrically, primarily by solar panels that are silent, emission-free, and completely self-sufficient.
The two men are not embarking on this trip alone. They have an experienced crew to help them along the way, including Will Mitchell, captain of “100%”, and Michael Scherdel, mechanical engineer and expert in kite systems. Leading the navigation is Steve Bell, Chairman of Silent Yachts, now undertaking his third Atlantic crossing and his first aboard a Silent Yacht.
The Trip
The Silent 62 100% follows a route from Gibraltar to Antigua in the Caribbean. After a short stop in the Canaries, 100% will head southwest toward Cape Verde, then pick up the trade winds and the North Equatorial Current to reach Antigua. Dollries and crew departed on their 24–28-day journey from Gibraltar in mid-November 2025. As of Monday, December 8, 100% has only 613 nm until it arrives in Antigua with an ETA of Friday, December 12, 2025. You can view an interactive map and follow along 100% during the journey. The crew have been answering questions as well as making posts about their trip along the way.
“We will complete a 3800 mile trip from Gibraltar to Antigua stopping in Agadir, Lanzarote, Cape Verde, and then finally in Antigua,” Steve Bell, Chairman of the Board of Silent Yachts.
Why this crossing?
On a long-distance trip, every system is put to the test. Since 100% is sailing from Gibraltar to Antigua, it allows the crew to monitor real efficiency over thousands of nautical miles.
It also shows how the vessel responds to changes in conditions, including energy production, speed, battery use, and silent navigation. The crew wanted to demonstrate crossing the Atlantic with the highest possible efficiency, minimal generator use, and negligeable fuel consumption.
Since transparency is a huge part of Silent Yachts’ mission, the crew will share solar gain, energy use, and daily insights throughout their trip. They want to gather data, share it openly, and show what long-range electric navigation can achieve today.
Learning as the go Bell commented, “We opted to speed up slightly from the planned 5 knot cruise to 6.5 knots as this was much more comfortable than travelling slower than the waves behind us. Of course, this used more fuel, but we will share all the data on speed and fuel burn once we arrive in Antigua.”
About the Silent 62 3-Deck
The Silent 62 uses sustainable technology without sacrificing onboard comfort. The 61’9” (18.86m) yacht delivers near-zero-emissions navigation and a quiet, smooth ride. It is engineered for long days on the water with low maintenance and maximum freedom. The three-deck layout features generous interior volume with below deck layouts that can have up to 5 cabins and 5 heads. The upper-level main cabin has a fully equipped galley along with comfortable dining and lounging areas and nearly 360° panoramic views. The open-air flybridge and aft deck add spacious outdoor living space with a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the breeze and the scenery.
Made in Italy, the Silent 62 received the “Most Efficient Yacht” award at the 2024 World Yachts Trophies.
Silent’s Technology
There’s a lot of technology that goes into modern yachts, and Silent is no different. Each Silent Yacht has four key components that enable solar-electric propulsion: solar panels, batteries, electric motors, and range extenders.
Solar panels
By employing the most efficient solar panel models available and positioning them to capture the most available solar energy, Silent can efficiently generate enough energy to power the 62 in many conditions. The array consists of 42 panels 400W per panel.
Batteries
Silent uses LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate / LiFePO₄) batteries to power both propulsion and household systems with intelligent safety systems that ensure maximum reliability. The batteries are manufactured by MG in the Netherlands and coincide of 34 batteries in total in two banks of 17 with total 350 kWh capacity.
Electric motors
Silent’s motors are compact, efficient, and emission-free, and because they have few moving parts, they require minimal maintenance. On the vessel 100% they have 340kW Danfoss electric motors and during the passage they are running around 25kW at cruising speed.
Range extender (Efficient Diesel Generator)
When the sun isn’t out, the Silent 62 uses a generator to extend range and recharge the batteries. It never powers propulsion directly, so the yacht remains fully electric while navigating. When on the dock electric shore power can recharge the batteries by supplementing solar power. 100% carries a 130kW main and a 20kW backup generator.
“To run 24/7 (when offshore) we use about 500 kWh each day, The solar panels provide about 50 kWh each day so there is a need to run the generator on a trans-ocean passage, Explains Steve Bell, Chairman of the Board of Silent Yachts, (On 100% during the ocean crossing) We are running the generator about 5-6 hours a day at 90 Kw.”
Kite Sailing
The Silent 62 can also use a kite sail to harness wind and extend range and performance.
With vessels ranging from 62 feet to 120 feet, Silent Yachts was the first shipyard to build fully electric catamarans designed to be powered by the sun, with solar panels, lithium batteries, and electric motors working together as one system. These yachts can travel for days without noise, fuel, or emissions, offering a quieter and cleaner way to explore the sea.
“On this trip we had the ability to test the kite, this was a first for us. It was a 10 sq metre kite on a 250 foot line. We saw an energy saving of 15 kWh using the kite in 16 knots of wind,” said Bell.
According to Bell the kite system worked but there are some communications issues that will need to be addressed for it to be fully functional.
Follow along as the Silent 62 100% crosses the Atlantic, fulfilling her owner’s dreams and proving that efficient electric power can be a viable technology for even long passagemaking. https://silent-yachts.com
Silent 62 Specifications
Length Overall: 61’ 11” (18.86 m)
Beam: 29’ 6” (4.45 m)
Maximum Water Draft: 4’ 2” (1.26 m)
Maximum Air Draft w Mast: 26’ 6” (8.07 m)
Maximum Air Draft Mast Removed: 23’ 10” (7.26 m)
Displacement: 102,845 lbs (46,650 kg)
Fuel Capacity (Standard): 264 US gal (1,000 l)
Fuel Capacity (Optional): 500 US gal (1,900 l)
Water Capacity: 264 US gal (1000 l)
Watermaker: 1 x 150 l/h Reverse osmosis watermaker
Holding Tank Capacity: 502 US gal (1,900 l)
Grey Water Tank Capacity: 264 US gal (1,000 l)
Sleeping Capacity: 12 + 2 Crew (14)
Speed: Cruising 6-7knots, Max 12knots
Main Engines Electric: 2 x Danfoss 340kw
Battery Capacity (Lithium Iron Phosphate / LiFePO₄): 207-286 kWh battery banks
Solar Array: 16.8 kWp
Generator (Main): 130 kW Hyundai V6 with an 800volt DC output
Generator (Back Up): 20 kW
Category: CE-A
Construction: Composite E-Glass – Epoxy