Man who built solar-powered yacht that can run forever shares his reflections after spending 250 days on board
Published on Jul 12, 2026 at 8:01 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 12, 2026 at 8:01 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
The man who built a solar-powered yacht has opened up about his experience after spending 250 days on board.
Lukas Sjoman spent 200 days creating Helios 11, a yacht that lived off sunlight and didn’t need a marina to fuel up.
Since he set sail, he’s been traveling the high seas and sharing his experiences online.
Now he’s crossed a 250-day milestone, he’s opened up about what that means to him.
The Helios 11 is a solar-powered yacht with a remarkable story
Lukas Sjoman, through his YouTube channel TRUE NORTH, has documented various facets of his Helios 11 journey.
It’s fair to say that the coverage of this remarkable vessel has been plentiful.
Practically every facet of its voyages have been shared online, from its ability to overtake boats three times its size to its maiden voyage on the frozen canals of France.
Sjoman has been keen to share details with his followers, whether that’s the build guide, or new upgrades.
That’s not to say that his journeys have all been smooth sailing…if you pardon the pun.
On a recent trip to Spain, he ran into some tricky situations, including having his utility dinghy stolen and his boat pelted with rocks.
But onwards and upwards, as they say.
After spending some time in Spain, this man was taking his solar-powered yacht to Portugal
Sjoman has spent just over 250 days on his yacht, equaling around eight months.
That’s a lot of time to be self-sufficient, and he’s been reflecting.
“Most boats you see here, most homes, they are not designed for freedom, they are not designed to make you independent,” Sjoman said.
“I always wanted to have a spaceship that somehow runs forever, and this is the closest thing I could come up with for now. It works.
“It brings me freedom and inspires many more.”
His favorite things about his seafaring lifestyle?
“In the long run, the best thing living like this is seeing new cities, mountains, and beaches daily while not having to refuel at marinas for outrageous prices,” he said.
“That is why I built the first budget friendly solar [yacht].”
What lies in store for this seafarer?
Believe it or not, Helios 11 is still not finished – it’s a work in progress.
He was looking to create a 16-meter solar-powered catamaran.
A catamaran, for all your land lubbers, is a type of boat.
But he wasn’t limiting his creative ambitions to the sea.
A solar-powered plane was potentially on his agenda.
“I’ve considered doing that as my second build,” Sjoman said.
“I would have to raise a bit more money and you would end up with something that doesn’t have as much room cabin space… but it’s possible with ground effect flight.
“So that just opens up some thoughts for the future.”
At this rate, he may just create a whole fleet of solar-powered vehicles.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
