Circumnavigator Alec Hughes is on a mission to re-connect us with our seafaring past. Speaking at schools and yacht clubs as he sails around the world, he teaches the young and old, alike, about the earliest days of exploration and trading under sail.
On the foredeck of his 51ft sloop Manu, he carries a balsa wood raft – a replica of the craft in which navigators would have crossed oceans thousands of years before him …sailing by the stars, the direction of ocean swell, the behaviour of clouds, and by observing birds in flight.
The raft is a symbol of Peru’s ancient Inca maritime heritage, and the cultural debt we all owe to early maritime communities who explored the world, their incredible feats of navigation and seamanship, and his message is that it is still possible, today, to travel the world without damaging the planet.
Alec’s vessel is equipped with the latest technology: electronic charts; weather information; a B&G autopilot with associated compass and computer control; a Starlink Mini internet router; plus all the domestic appliances – fridge/freezer, pumps, lighting, and audio entertainment – you would expect on board a blue water cruiser …together with the labour-saving luxury of an electric windlass.
His aim is that all his equipment will be powered by the sun. His yacht is fitted with an engine, of course, which has an alternator – but Alec’s relationship to both is that they will only used in emergencies. In fact, during his latest circumnavigation he only started the engine twice.
Alec and his crew passed East to West on their passage around Cape Horn.
Manu’s electric power system was built with devices imported by Tienda Solar – Peru’s leading Photovoltaic distributor and Victron Energy’s only service partner in the region. It was installed by Alec himself in collaboration with university students helping each other learn about battery based power systems.
Alec has a number of flexible solar panels offering up to 1000W. There is also a rigid panel of 500W mounted on davits at the stern, away from the shadows cast by the sails.
Solar energy from all of them is harvested by two BlueSolar MPPT 75/15 solar charge controllers to be stored in two 25.6V lithium batteries with a capacity of 150Ah.
When needed, power generated by the Yanmar 120A alternator can charge three battery banks at the same time – the engine starting battery, the ‘house’ bank, and a battery dedicated to operating the anchor windlass. Two Orion-Tr Smart 12/24-10A chargers protect the alternator from overload whilst maximising the charge current to house and starter batteries. A further Orion-Tr 24/24-12A isolated DC-DC converter provides power to a battery which is dedicated to the 900W anchor windlass up forward.
A Cerbo GX MK2 data communication device ensures that all components of the power system are able to talk to each other allowing proper charge/discharge control. System status – together with programming and firmware updates are available via the GX Touch 50 display UI. Access to the system can also be made from a smart phone using the VictronConnect app which provides management in Bluetooth range – or from the other side of the world using its remote management feature.
Alec Hughes has been sailing since he was six and is passionate about bringing the sport – which is underdeveloped along the 3000km coastline – to more Peruvians. In pursuit of that aim he founded – and is President of – the Peruvian Sailing & Ocean Society (Sociedad Peruana de Vela y el Mar). Through it he hopes to introduce and expand the sport and shore facilities along the Peruvian seaboard, through competition and social events.
He has dedicated much of his life to exploring the connection between sailing, Peru’s maritime heritage, and the ocean which connects it to the world. The experience he has more recently gained in solar energy is allowing him to help other yachtsmen install reliable, sustainable, PV based energy systems on board their boats – increasing safety at sea, and providing them with the confidence to spend more time on the water.
At the same time Tienda Solar is investing time and money into extending their online and physical presence – making it easier for Peruvians to find information and devices together with providing the service network which makes reliable solar, battery-based power systems an easy choice – available to everyone in the region.
It is a testament to his character, skill and sense of maritime community that when – a few days into his last circumnavigation which began in April 2025 – he rerouted to go to the assistance of British rowers Miriam Payne and Jess Rowe who had broken the rudder of their rowing boat 350 miles into their planned 8,000 mile voyage after being hit by a wave. The navy were willing to rescue the rowers …but not their boat. It was agreed that Alec would rescue rowers-and-boat – a feat which took eight days. Back at Lima the boat was repaired and the pair later successfully completed their record breaking endeavour.
You can follow Alec via his Facebook channel.
Let’s meet the man:
