In the Arctic, an environment where extreme temperatures and unknown and inhospitable terrain have defeated the bravest, Spanish explorer Ramón Larramendi has not only survived, he has revolutionized the way to move over the ice, with his wind sled 🛷, unique in the world.
For years, other explorers have tried to take advantage of the relentless Arctic winds and flat geographies to move around in pseudo-boats. But only Larramendi, with his deep knowledge of polar dynamics 🏔️ and Eskimo culture, was able to design and perfect a sled that uses the power of the wind to navigate the icy and beautiful deserts of the North Pole, enabling expeditions and scientific research that have set global milestones.
Today, the “zero-emissions” ice sailboat is 12 m long and 3.30 m wide and is made of light and resistant materials. It has the perfect balance between technology and the tradition of the Inuit people. Simplicity is the key.
- It weighs almost 450 kilos.
- It has the capacity to haul 2000 kilos: scientific equipment, 6 crew members, survival supplies and samples collected during explorations.
- It is a “convoy” of 4 interconnected wooden platforms:
- 1 locomotive module. This piloting area (three crew members) has a tent to work in. There are the pulleys and controls to control the ropes that link the different sized kites.
- 2 Charging modules. With 3 solar panels, to supply energy to the communication systems and scientific equipment.
- 1 habitability module, with a large tent. For the rest of the crew.
Larramendi has more than 30,000 km of navigation on ice aboard the wind sled, crossing the immaculately beautiful landscapes of Antarctica and Greenland, in charge of several explorations of great scientific weight, such as the Spanish Transantarctic Expedition 2005, or the more recent “Greenland Uncharted 2024” and “#SOSArcticWindsled2024”.
He is a Spanish explorer who has not only conquered the icy winds of the Arctic; he proved that innovation and sustainability can move forward together… He redefined what it means to be a 21st century scientific explorer.
At #TECNIMUSA we are dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability on the planet. As an engineering company we design and manufacture eco-efficient automated solutions for intralogistics that prepare industry for every challenge of the future.
