The fastest eco boat on the planet will
attempt to break the round the world speed record using fuel made from human fat.
Pete Bethune, the New Zealand skipper of Earthrace, said the
attempt to
circumnavigate the globe would begin from Valencia in Spain on March 1
next year.Record breaking attempt: Earthrace will attempt to
circumnavigate the globe running 100 per cent biodiesel, and with a net
zero carbon-footprint.
Earthrace is a 78 foot alternative fuel powered wave-piercing trimaran,
it can carry 3,000 gallons of fuel, and weighs 23 tonnes when fully
fuelled
Demonstrating further commitment to the cause, Bethune underwent
liposuction and donated enough to produce 100ml of biofuel, while two
other, larger volunteers also had the procedure, making a total of 10
litres of human fat.
Pete Bethune, the New Zealand skipper of Earthrace,
believes the boat can help advance biodiesel as a genuinely viable
alternative to petroleum diese
The current record holder is British boat Cable and Wireless Adventurer
which took 75 days in 1998.Inside Earthrace: The not-for-profit project aims to promote awareness of the environment and the sustainable use of resources
Earthrace, which cost about £1.5 million to build, can carry 3,000 gallons of fuel, and weighs 23 tonnes when fully fuelled.Route to success: The boat will cross the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans and travel through the Panama and Suez Canals
“If it were up to market forces,
biofuels wouldn’t happen at all.
“Politicians in Western Europe must be prepared to stand up to the oil
industry, and be more supportive of the biofuels industry to make sure
the production of biofuels is sustainable.”
A successful attempt by Earthrace would mark the first time in history
that an official UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique - The
International Powerboating Association) Powerboat world record has been
broken using only renewable fuel.