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In this regard, relating to engineless boats, if you are planning to use electric autopilots exclusively, be sure to take a portable generator along. Your solar panels will not suffice to keep the batteries up.
If everything is planned correct (i.e. tested over a long period) you can do solar only for the race and I will the next time I go, albeit with much more solar output. I did it with only 8amps of solar and only 100Ah in two batteries. The autopilot basically drove the entire trip except may 15-20 hours. A gas generator or fuel cell could augment the solar and not weigh much and could be deployed at night!