Earthrace, a unique 78 foot
biodiesel powered wave-piercing trimaran, is at the starting line in
Port Charles, Barbados. The sponsored project is looking to break the
world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat, and intend
to do it on renewable fuel.
The team is skippered by 41 year old New Zealander Pete Bethune, who
intends to showcase a myriad of environmentally friendly technologies;
the engines are two 540 hp Cummins Mercruiser diesels, the use of
non-toxic antifouling and a fuel efficient hull design. The trimarans
hull “pierces waves instead of riding on top of them. Piercing the
waves gives a smoother ride, and allows the boat to run at high speeds
even in rough seas.” Their goal is to top the world powerboat
circumnavigation record of 74 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes which was set
in 1998.
Specifications
* Hull: Wavepiercing Trimaran
* Length: 24 m (78 ft)
* Beam: 7 m (23 ft)
* Draft: 1.3 m (4 ft)
* Range: 3000 nm (6000 km)
* Maximum speed: 45 knots (90 km/h)*
* Fuel: B100 Biodiesel (100%)
* Fuel Capacity: 10,000 litres (2500 imperial gallons)
* Displacement: 10 ton (10 t)
* Construction: Carbon, Kevlar composites
* Crew: 4
* Beds: 8
* Engines: 2 x 350 kW (540 hp) Cummins Mercruiser
* Gearboxes: ZF 305A (single speed)
* Air intakes: top of wings to remain above waves while piercing
* Windscreen: 17 mm laminated toughened glass
The world record attempt will begin on March 10, 2007 although I’ve heard the 6th in a email from Donna Lange today. (which is why I’m posting this early) The Turbo.com channel of Discovery.com
is covering this like nobody else, so that’s probably the best place to
get up to speed and stay up to date. Oh … and if you think everything
is going like clockwork, just read some of the Earthrace team comments.
