A Finnish sailor and inventor has reached Ibiza after an extraordinary European journey aboard a solar-powered yacht he designed and built himself.

Lukas Sjöman spent around 200 days constructing the 11-metre vessel, named Helios 11, before setting off from Finland with a companion and beginning a journey of approximately 5,500–5,700 kilometres to Ibiza.

The unusual voyage demonstrates how renewable energy can be used for long-distance recreational travel, while also turning Ibiza into the final destination of an ambitious home-built maritime project.

A Yacht Built From Scratch

Sjöman's Helios 11 was constructed using marine plywood and fibreglass and weighs approximately 1.5 tonnes.

The yacht was designed around a solar-electric propulsion system rather than conventional diesel or petrol power. Solar panels installed across the roof generate electricity, which is stored in an onboard 48-volt battery system. In clear conditions, the solar array can generate up to around 6 kilowatts of power.

The stored electricity powers the boat's propulsion as well as everyday equipment on board, including an electric cooker and a small refrigerator.

An auxiliary sail was also fitted to Helios 11, allowing the crew to take advantage of favourable winds and conserve electrical energy.

From Finland to Ibiza

The journey began in Finland and took Sjöman and his companion through Sweden, Denmark, Germany and France before eventually reaching Spain and the Mediterranean.

Rather than simply following a conventional coastal route, the voyage included canals, inland waterways and open-water sections, putting the homemade vessel through a variety of conditions along the way.

The total distance has been reported at between approximately 5,500 and 5,700 kilometres, depending on the source and how the route is measured.

The journey was completed without relying on conventional fuel for the yacht's propulsion, using solar-generated electricity, stored battery power and favourable winds instead.

Not Everything Went According to Plan

The ambitious voyage also came with its share of unexpected challenges.

During the journey through Spain, the crew's inflatable dinghy was reportedly stolen. Unable to recover the original, they built a replacement using materials available to them.

On another occasion, someone reportedly threw a stone from a bridge towards Helios 11's solar panels. Despite the incident, the panels were not damaged and continued producing electricity.

These setbacks became part of the wider adventure as the crew continued towards the Mediterranean.

Arriving in Ibiza

After travelling thousands of kilometres across Europe, Sjöman eventually arrived at Marina Ibiza, bringing Helios 11 to the island.

The arrival is particularly fitting given Ibiza's strong connection with boating and the Mediterranean, but this yacht is very different from the large luxury vessels normally associated with the island's summer ports.

Instead, Helios 11 represents a much smaller and more experimental approach to exploring the Mediterranean — one centred on solar energy, lightweight construction and self-sufficiency.

An Experiment in Sustainable Travel

Sjöman's project is more than simply a long-distance sailing adventure.

By designing and building Helios 11 himself and then taking it thousands of kilometres across Europe, he has created a practical demonstration of what a small solar-electric vessel can achieve.

The project has also become an educational venture. Sjöman shares details of the boat's construction and his experiences online, while making plans, technical documentation and manuals available for people interested in building their own solar-powered vessels.

For Ibiza, his arrival adds an unusual sustainability story to the island's busy summer boating scene — showing that reaching the White Isle does not always require a conventional yacht or a tank full of fuel.

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