Earthrace 2008

K1W1 · 09-01-2007, 12:43 AM

Hi,

I found the article below when reading the news from the Motherland

"The New Zealand Earthrace crew will try again early next year to tackle their world speed record attempt.

The team of four will leave from Spain mid-February on a mission to beat the 75-day record to circumnavigate the world.

Earthrace is trying to beat the record set by British diesel-powered boat Cable & Wireless in 1998, which travelled 24,382 nautical miles in 74 days, 20 hours, 58 minutes.

Structural damage and a fatal high-sea collision with a fishing boat 22km off the Guatemalan coast scuppered the trimaran crew's last attempt.

Skipper and former Hamilton man Pete Bethune described this year's attempt as "bloody hard" and a "violent experience" but was always keen to try and beat the record again.

Although the 24-metre trimaran would still be powered by biofuels, next year's theme would be carbon neutral - reducing CO2 outputs as much as possible and balancing what was left through purchasing carbon offsets.

Mr Bethune, who leaves for Europe in two weeks, said many businesses in Europe had already adopted the method and he believed Kiwis should start to do it too.

Although he and his wife Sharyn nearly went broke funding the last race - it set them back $750,000 - he was expecting next year's race to be easier on the pocket.

Holding public tours of the boat, at $5 a pop, not only helped fund the adventure but also spread the environmental message.

"We mortgaged the house too, but we're not complaining about it. It's just what it took to get the boat in the water . . . We still owe money but it's all long-term debt."

The boat will also make appearances during this year's Rugby World Cup which kicks off next Saturday (NZ time).

It will be in Edinburgh when the All Blacks play Scotland in pool play.

If the All Blacks top their pool and advance to the quarterfinals, the boat will be on show in Cardiff where the match will be played.

Then it will be taken to Paris for the semifinals and final. "

Sourced from: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4185848a11.html

Codger · 09-01-2007, 03:21 PM

You have to applaud the man's determination to get the deed done.
If he can avoid even half the crap that messed up the last attempt he should be able to pull it off. I'll sure be watching this as closely as I did last time.

catmando · 09-01-2007, 10:03 PM

Yes it was a tragedy but those fishing boats rarely have lights so you can't blame the helmsman to much. Here's their site;

www.earthrace.net

Codger · 09-02-2007, 08:09 AM

The collision in the dark was unfortunate and Earthrace was absolved of responsibility. I was thinking more of the technical issues with propulsion that caused so many delays.

Codger · 01-27-2008, 10:05 PM

".....Bethune's also made a symbolic gesture towards the project undergoing liposuction with two other volunteers which produced 10 litres of human fat.
That's enough to power the boat for 15 kilometres."

http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/...heworld_t rip

Kevin · 01-28-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codger

".....Bethune's also made a symbolic gesture towards the project undergoing liposuction with two other volunteers which produced 10 litres of human fat.
That's enough to power the boat for 15 kilometres."

Should I forward my ex-wife's contact info to them? She's worth a whole crossing by now, no doubt.

K1W1 · 01-28-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

Should I forward my ex-wife's contact info to them? She's worth a whole crossing by now, no doubt.

I take it that your ex wife was or is on the large size then!

hat4349 · 01-28-2008, 11:18 PM

I can see the new fast food chains ads already, go green eat a Big mac, then get liposuction to power your new biofuel vehicle.

AggieH2O · 01-29-2008, 10:41 PM

I am a friend of Pete Bethune. I flew to Charleston, SC to do carbon fiber repair on Earthrace. If you ever get the chance to tour his vessel, it is worth the money, travel expenses included. If you can not afford that or do not have the time, I would recommend going to his website and purchasing his video. It shows the making of Earthrace and very interesting. Best of luck mate from your fellow Texan. Cheers Pete

K1W1 · 01-29-2008, 11:52 PM

Hi,

Where do you get the idea that the Earthrace Skipper Pete Bethune is a Texan?

He sounds like a New Zealander and his Bio shows him to be a New Zealand Citizen

AggieH2O · 01-30-2008, 11:19 PM

When I flew to Charleston to visit Pete and assist with the repairs, I made him eat hamburger combo meal equal to the size we serve here in Texas. Texas has their own size when it comes to servings. After he completed the meal, he looked at me in pain and asked if this made him a Texan. I said sure and it was just a joke between us. When I talk to him I always say that so he will remember that "bloody huge hamburger!"

K1W1 · 01-31-2008, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AggieH2O

I am a friend of Pete Bethune. Best of luck mate from your fellow Texan. Cheers Pete

This doesn't read like someone who simply shared a burger with the man in any way shape or form

Codger · 05-11-2008, 08:41 PM

Looks like they've figured out a way to bypass the ... hmmm.... capacity problems, at Panama and are going to get through with little delay.

http://www.earthrace.net/index.php?section=1

Have to support a project where the guys hug and fondle their engines.

http://www.earthrace.net/index.php?section=50

Blog 56: Windows MAC loving those new engines

AMG · 05-15-2008, 07:49 AM

Here is a tracker: http://earthrace.rushdigital.com/

Codger · 06-01-2008, 10:44 PM

Making good time despite a couple of glitches.
Prop strike but not much detail about it. Considering that the boat was built purely for speed and sound/vibration isolation wasn't a major goal, hitting anything at speed must have produced quite the bang inside there.
Hope they get it all sorted in Singapore.