BioFuels Journal

BioFuels Journal Q&A Podcast With Pete Bethune, Captain of the Earthrace Biodiesel Boat

Eco-Boat Smashes Round-The-World Speed Record By Nearly 14 Days

Earthrace, the world’s fastest eco-boat, has smashed the world speed record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe, completing the journey in 60 days, 23 hours 49 mins, and knocking almost 14 days off the previous record.

The boat crossed the finish line in Sagunto at 12.24 GMT (14.24 CET) on Friday 27 June having travelled around 24,000 nautical miles fuelled by biodiesel to demonstrate and draw global attention to the potential for alternative fuel sources.

Earthrace is a 24m tri-hull wavepiercer built in New Zealand, and the record attempt, run by a team of international volunteers from New Zealand, UK, Sweden, Guyana and Hungary, has been completed as a carbon neutral project.

She set off from Spain on 27 April at 13.35 GMT in an attempt to challenge the world record that has remained unbroken since 1998, when it was set by the British boat, Cable and Wireless Adventurer.

The finish in Spain by Earthrace was monitored by D. Jaime Pérez López, Presidente de la Federación Territorial Motonaútica de la Comunidad Valenciana.

Earthrace, a not for profit enterprise, has overcome many obstacles during its journey, the most challenging of which were the replacement of the boat’s driveshaft and propeller after hitting sea debris in Palau, encountering monsoon conditions in the India Ocean, and bypassing a massive backlog of ships waiting to transit the Panama Canal.

Despite this, the crew has emerged victorious after almost two months at sea.

Skipper Pete Bethune, a former oil worker, has dedicated the past six years of his life towards reaching his goal of smashing the record in his amazing boat using biodiesel, including an attempt last year, called off after meeting three huge storms in the Mediterranean.

“We’re completely stoked to have achieved something so incredible,” says Bethune.

“Earthrace’s success has proved that any form of transport, including marine, can be nondamaging to the environment as well as being high performance.

"It is still early days for alternative fuel and there are issues that need to be addressed by those with the power to make change happen.

"But I hope that Earthrace and her adventure highlight to the world the importance of continuing to research and develop alternative fuel sources for global use.”