This Friday at 14:24 CET when crossing the finishing line in Sagunto, Spain New Zealand’s Eco-Diesel boat “Earthrace” set a new world record for circumnavigation with powerboats.
With the new record time of 60 days, 23h:49min skipper Pete Bethune and his crew have shaved off almost 14 days from the previous record set by the British “Cable & Wireless” in 1998. After the failed first attempt to break the record last year when they had to abandon the run due to structural damages to the boat’s hull, this year’s attempt was not plagued with similar issues.
Congratulations Pete for your endurance and persistence on achieving this target. We were all “crossing fingers” that you will have more luck this year. After having spent five days in heavy weather on Earthrace last year, we know what it means to be at sea for more than sixty days on that boat.
Good luck with your tour and run home to NZ.
The cause for the race - and that’s also how it was marketed - was to raise awareness on ecological friendly and renewable fuels and to showcasing other environmentally friendly technologies for boats. Nevertheless, the circumnavigation record for sail boats (zero emissions of CO2) set by Orange II in 2005 currently stands at 50 days, 16h:20min.
While we can’t rely on sailing boats alone there are some interesting attempts underway for circumnavigations with engine driven boat creating their energy with photo-voltaics and other zero emission approaches - one of the strongest contenders from Neuchatel, Switzerland planning to be ready for the record attempt in 2009/2010.
More information:
Official Earthrace web site
Information on the World Solar Navigation challenge
Our posts on spending 5 days on Earthrace
February 6th, 2009 at 11:12
Please, can you PM me and tell me few more thinks about this, I am really fan of your blog…
February 6th, 2009 at 11:23
I usually don?ffff92t post in Blogs but your blog forced me to, amazing work.. beautiful ?ffff85
February 6th, 2009 at 11:27
thanks !! very helpful post!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:36
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:40
Wow! what an idea ! What a concept ! Beautiful .. Amazing ?ffff85
February 28th, 2009 at 11:04
I must say that you provide genuine, quality information. Thanks for this!
BTW, dpn’t you think your blog needs a better wordpress template?
March 4th, 2009 at 17:12
@ Applebees Menu:
It’s coming, it’s coming soon
The current theme is pretty much stitched together and needs replacement we know.
Anyway thanks
April 8th, 2009 at 23:41
There is apparently a great deal to recognize about this. I remember you made some great points in Features also.
April 16th, 2009 at 23:22
I usually do not comment on blog posts but I found this quite interesting, so here goes. Thanks! Regards, P.
April 24th, 2009 at 4:23
Hello. Great job. I did not expect this on a Wednesday. This is a great story. Thanks!
May 6th, 2009 at 14:24
It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place
June 16th, 2009 at 4:27
Your blog is so informative ? keep up the good work!!!!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:19
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.
July 3rd, 2009 at 20:06
Thoughtful post and well written. Please write more on this if you have time.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:29
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later ..
July 13th, 2009 at 0:36
I guess I agree with you but maybe if you explained it just a little more I could learn more. Thanks in advance.
August 30th, 2009 at 19:05
Nice write up…usually I never reply to these thing but this time I will,Thanks for the great info.
August 30th, 2009 at 20:07
I loved reading this and I dont really like to read :)