Earthrace encounters trouble on first day of record bid
January 24, 2007
BY Susanne Retka Schill
Just hours into its trek, Earthrace may be forced to abandon its record-breaking attempt around the world. The futuristic-looking, biodiesel-powered boat left Barbados on Saturday, March 10, heading west, hoping to circumnavigate the globe in a record-breaking 65 days. It was to be the first to attempt to circle the globe using only renewable fuel.
However, mechanical problems may end the attempt just 16 hours after it began. Earthrace officials said the boat's unique, carbon-based propellers have begun to fail. An inspection of the propellers found portions of the blades to be peeling away. "We were staggered by the damage," said Skipper Pete Bethune.
The race launch was the realization of Bethune's dream. Construction of the 78-foot powerboat began early in 2005. Just 14 months and 18,000 hours of labor later, the boat hit the water in February 2006. The past year has been spent making modifications, testing systems, installing more equipment and touring New Zealand and North American ports promoting the venture and raising funds.
"The boat is ready," said Devann Yata, media liaison, a few days before the launch. "The things we have pulled together last minute are the communication systems- we could never afford them before - and the propellers."
Many features of the boat are innovative. The propellers are German-designed, carbon propellers that are 36 inches in diameter. Designed by Air Fertigung Gnbh, the propellers feature three interchangeable blades that flex under pressure to increase speed and fuel efficiency.
New Zealand navel architect Craig Loomis Design Group designed the 78-foot wave-piercing trimaran, built by Calibre Boats. To ensure the lowest weight and highest strength, the hull is constructed of carbon fiber with a top layer of Kevlar. Calibre Boats also designed Kevlar socks that can be placed on the bow and sponsons with silicon during the race if the tips are damaged.
After a North American tour, Earthrace was lifted from the water in January for final modifications in Charleston, S.C., home of Cummins Mercruiser, a primary sponsor of the project. The carbon propellers were fitted and the bow's fresh-water ballast tank was converted to a fuel tank to hold another 800 gallons of biodiesel, bringing the total fuel capacity to 3,800 gallons. Under the world powerboat association rules, the boat cannot refuel at sea, requiring sufficient capacity to make it between ports.
Earthrace's route started at Barbados and includes the Panama Canal, Acapulco, San Diego, Maui, Majuro, Koror, Singapore, Cochin, Salalah, the Suez Canal, Malta, Canary Islands and Barbados.
As the race begins, the land crew still needs to find sponsors for half the B100 powering the boat. The list of sponsors includes the National Biodiesel Board, AgriFuels LLC, Biox Corp., Delta Fuels Company Inc., Crystal Flash Energy, DOW Chemical Co., Pacific Biodiesel Inc., Stepan Co., Seattle Biodiesel LLC, SoyPOWER Biodiesel, British Petroleum PLC, Better BioDiesel Inc., Sol Atlantic Biodiesel LLC, Agri-Source Fuels LLC, Biodiesel and Fuels of Puerto Rico, and Imperium Renewables Inc.
Yata said the total number of donors and sponsors are 'too many to count, and they range from full engines to beer."
The permanent crew numbers three: Bethune, first mate and cinematographer Ryan Heron, and marine engineer Anthony Distefano. The fourth and fifth crew members will be sponsors purchasing a leg of the journey in return for a berth on that leg. Several of those sponsorships are still available. A ground crew of six will be managing the ongoing fundraising and port arrangements. Earthrace is a nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers.
Earthrace is considering its options and is expected to determine whether the record attempt will continue in the next few days.
During the race, Earthrace will have live video and photos streaming from the boat and crew blogs will chronicle their progress around the world. Candid and quite entertaining, the blogs give insight into the challenge of launching the venture, from glitches and setbacks to funny and even heartbreaking moments. Check it out at www.earthrace.net.
Susanne Retka Schill is a Biodiesel Magazine staff writer. Reach her at sschill@bbibiofuels.com or (701) 746-8385.
Posted: 9:201 a.m. CST Monday, March 12, 2007
However, mechanical problems may end the attempt just 16 hours after it began. Earthrace officials said the boat's unique, carbon-based propellers have begun to fail. An inspection of the propellers found portions of the blades to be peeling away. "We were staggered by the damage," said Skipper Pete Bethune.
The race launch was the realization of Bethune's dream. Construction of the 78-foot powerboat began early in 2005. Just 14 months and 18,000 hours of labor later, the boat hit the water in February 2006. The past year has been spent making modifications, testing systems, installing more equipment and touring New Zealand and North American ports promoting the venture and raising funds.
"The boat is ready," said Devann Yata, media liaison, a few days before the launch. "The things we have pulled together last minute are the communication systems- we could never afford them before - and the propellers."
Many features of the boat are innovative. The propellers are German-designed, carbon propellers that are 36 inches in diameter. Designed by Air Fertigung Gnbh, the propellers feature three interchangeable blades that flex under pressure to increase speed and fuel efficiency.
New Zealand navel architect Craig Loomis Design Group designed the 78-foot wave-piercing trimaran, built by Calibre Boats. To ensure the lowest weight and highest strength, the hull is constructed of carbon fiber with a top layer of Kevlar. Calibre Boats also designed Kevlar socks that can be placed on the bow and sponsons with silicon during the race if the tips are damaged.
After a North American tour, Earthrace was lifted from the water in January for final modifications in Charleston, S.C., home of Cummins Mercruiser, a primary sponsor of the project. The carbon propellers were fitted and the bow's fresh-water ballast tank was converted to a fuel tank to hold another 800 gallons of biodiesel, bringing the total fuel capacity to 3,800 gallons. Under the world powerboat association rules, the boat cannot refuel at sea, requiring sufficient capacity to make it between ports.
Earthrace's route started at Barbados and includes the Panama Canal, Acapulco, San Diego, Maui, Majuro, Koror, Singapore, Cochin, Salalah, the Suez Canal, Malta, Canary Islands and Barbados.
As the race begins, the land crew still needs to find sponsors for half the B100 powering the boat. The list of sponsors includes the National Biodiesel Board, AgriFuels LLC, Biox Corp., Delta Fuels Company Inc., Crystal Flash Energy, DOW Chemical Co., Pacific Biodiesel Inc., Stepan Co., Seattle Biodiesel LLC, SoyPOWER Biodiesel, British Petroleum PLC, Better BioDiesel Inc., Sol Atlantic Biodiesel LLC, Agri-Source Fuels LLC, Biodiesel and Fuels of Puerto Rico, and Imperium Renewables Inc.
Yata said the total number of donors and sponsors are 'too many to count, and they range from full engines to beer."
The permanent crew numbers three: Bethune, first mate and cinematographer Ryan Heron, and marine engineer Anthony Distefano. The fourth and fifth crew members will be sponsors purchasing a leg of the journey in return for a berth on that leg. Several of those sponsorships are still available. A ground crew of six will be managing the ongoing fundraising and port arrangements. Earthrace is a nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers.
Earthrace is considering its options and is expected to determine whether the record attempt will continue in the next few days.
During the race, Earthrace will have live video and photos streaming from the boat and crew blogs will chronicle their progress around the world. Candid and quite entertaining, the blogs give insight into the challenge of launching the venture, from glitches and setbacks to funny and even heartbreaking moments. Check it out at www.earthrace.net.
Susanne Retka Schill is a Biodiesel Magazine staff writer. Reach her at sschill@bbibiofuels.com or (701) 746-8385.
Posted: 9:201 a.m. CST Monday, March 12, 2007
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