Irishmen announce record attempt in ‘green’ powerboat
The crew of the€3 million biodiesel-fuelled wave-piercing Earthrace vessel confirmed that they will launch a fresh attempt next March, probably from Spain, to break the circumnavigation record.
Two Cork crewmen, Adrian Erangey and Fred Holland, said they brought the lean silver vessel to Ireland to promote a cleaner environment and green fuels initiatives.
“I was determined to put Cork on the tour,” said Adrian.
The stunning winged trimaran created quite a stir yesterday morning when it squeezed under the city’s De Valera bridge and moored at the Lapp’s Quay boardwalk.
One of its wings clipped the underside of the bridge and the damaged wing was signed by skipper, Peter Trezise.
The revolutionary boat is made of carbon composites and runs on fuel from animal fat, rape seed, soya beans or other biodiesel sources.
It had to abandon a record-breaking attempt last month after technical difficulties.
Tragedy also struck when it collided with an unmarked fishing vessel off Guatemala, killing one of its three fishermen. But the crew was cleared after a 10-day investigation.
Yesterday, Holland and Erangey said Earthrace will launch another bid next March to smash the circumnavigation record of 75 days set in 1998 by the British powerboat, Cable & Wireless.
Earthrace hopes to do it in 65 days and shatter the myth that vessels fuelled by green fuels cannot perform at high levels.
The boat is the brainchild of retired New Zealand oil explorer Pete Bethune who has devoted the past three years of his life and spent several million dollars developing the boat, and promoting green fuels.
It has been designed to perform at high speeds in the tough ocean conditions and can pierce waves like a bullet, riding through them like a submarine.
It is funded almost entirely by donations and sponsorship. Crew members volunteer to work on board and some have contributed their own money to the project.
It is hoped the boat will open to the public today. It is due to leave at the weekend for the Tall Ships race in Sweden.
www.earthrace.net
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