Skimming across a man-made lake 300 kilometers southwest of Sydney, the twin-hulled Marjorie K looked like an exotic, overgrown waterbug. The resemblance grew as her crew manipulated the 7-meter boat's "wings" -- long, broad, lightweight modules covered with waterproofed solar cells. Each cell generated electricity just as a solar cell in an everyday pocket calculator does; by adjusting the wings' angle to the sun, the crew gathered more energy for their craft's electric motor.

But these wings weren't just solar collectors. Raised perpendicular to the water, they caught the breeze like a sail, allowing the catamaran to use the combined power of sun and wind to leave competitors behind at the 1997 Second International Solar and Advanced Technology Boat Race in Canberra, Australia's capital. As the boat's lead widened, however, the wind died down and the Marjorie K was forced to rely solely on its solar cells and batteries. The boat's support team was nervous -- it was the first trial under race conditions. But to spectators on the shore, the Marjorie K appeared to pick up the pace.