Biodiesel-fuelled craft finally does it
Earthrace has broken the Round the World Powerboat Speed Record.
The boat has arrived in Sagunto, near Valencia in Spain, 13 days ahead of the record.
Earthrace took 61 days to circle the globe.
She left Sagunto on 27 April and needed to be back by Saturday 12 July to beat the mark of 74 days 20 hours 58 minutes set by British boat Cable & Wireless Adventurer in 1998.
It is the second attempt the international crew, led by New Zealander Pete Bethune, have made on the record.
The first, last year, was beset by problems and was ended by heavy storms in the Med.
Getting the record will be just deserts for Bethune, who remortgaged his home twice to raise the funds to build the boat.
His motivation has been to raise awareness of the potential of biofuels.
The second attempt has been a claimed ‘carbon neutral’ project with the team donating to ecological schemes to cover all their air and sea miles.
Watch MBY in the coming months for a full feature on the project.
Meanwhile Earthrace is set to appear at the British Motor Show in July.
