Round The World Powerboat Record Attempt

UK Round The World Powerboat Record Bid

18.04.2016

UK Round The World Powerboat Record Attempt

British ocean racing legend Alan Priddy has launched Team Britannia’s multi-million pound round the world record bid which will start and finish in Gibraltar.

The team are using a revolutionary semi-wave slicing powerboat run on a fuel emulsion that slashes harmful emissions. The team hopes to beat the current record held by New Zealander Pete Bethune of 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes.

The boat will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion. A mixture of diesel, water and emulsifier, that when burnt reduces harmful emissions such as particulate matter and NOx. The pioneers of this new technology, British company Clean Fuel, say that it produces a stable, more efficient burning fuel that will improve the boats range, while cutting pollution.

Scientists, environmentalists and the public will be able to see the effects of the emulsified fuel on the engines and the emissions of the fuel as it will be monitored for the duration of the voyage with the results being published by Clean Fuel online in real time. Alan Priddy said, 'If successful it could have major implications not just for the marine sector, but for the power generation and transport sectors.'

Alan Priddy is also excited about highlighting the talent the UK has in the maritime area. He said, 'This project really is the culmination of a lifetime’s work for me that I hope will highlight the amazing qualities and skills that we have in abundance in our country – the best sailors, engineers, boat builders and designers.'

Professor Bob Cripps, the former Technical Director of VT Halmatic, has designed the boat which will slice the waves like a knife, rather than surfing them, with its super-efficient design, a variant of the fast displacement hull. The design will reduce fuel consumption by up to 30% and Team Britannia said it should make the 24,000 mile trip smoother. Currently the metal that will be used to manufacture the 80 foot (24 metre) vessel is already being produced and will be cut at the end of this month in Southampton by Aalco Metals – Europe’s largest laser cutting facility. The Aluminium Boat Building Company Ltd will then assemble the boat on Hayling Island.

To complete the record attempt the boat must pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and start and finish in the same place. The world record authorities, UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) have approved Team Britannia’s proposed route, which will start in Gibraltar and call at Puerto Rico, Acapulco, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and Malta to take on fuel.

A series of companies from the City have agreed to support them. The four companies financing the build of the £1.8 million boat are, Rivers Leasing, Fultech, The SME Clinic and Elite Wealth.