British sailing legend Alan Goodwin (79) is the latest recruit to Team Britannia’s round the world powerboat record attempt.
Mr Goodwin will join the project led by international adventurer Alan Priddy, which hopes to cut seven days off the current record of 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes, held by Kiwi Pete Bethune. He will be responsible for the Team’s massive shore-based operations, ensuring that its growing crew are fully prepared for the 23,000 nautical mile voyage along with in-port events.
Crucially he will oversee the resupply of the 80ft vessel, including bunkering, with a goal of making sure that Alan can get the boat in and out of the seven stops in just four hours. He will be helped by a 25-strong land-based team who are responsible for monitoring the vessel’s position and performance, emission data, safety, communications and public relations programme.
Team Britannia will use a specially built boat that will cut through the waves, rather than going over the top of them or trying to “submarine” under them. The ground-breaking design, the work of Hampshire-based Professor Bob Cripps, will make the boat much more stable and reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent.
Mr Priddy commented: “Alan’s unique skills set and understanding of our challenge is a major boost to the record attempt. He was part of the hugely successful 1998 Cable & Wireless project, which set the original record, and is a legend in the sailing community. I am delighted that he is joining our team and that we can draw on his five plus decades of experience. It is pleasure, honour and privilege to have him as part of the team.”
Mr Goodwin added: “I had always assumed that opportunities like this only come along once in a lifetime. So I am proud to be part of a second round the world powerboat record attempt – an attempt that I am confident will bring home the world record to Great Britain.
Alan, who lives in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, but is originally from Cheshire, has a hugely impressive naval and sailing career. He served seven years in the Royal Navy as a submariner, before setting up his own successful international business, which had offices around the world including Russia and Libya. Originally into racing cars, Alan decided to switch back to water following two major crashes, sponsoring a race boat and becoming its navigator. It was during this time he raced with powerboating icon Stuart Raven, then in 1998 he was selected to be part of the crew on board Cable & Wireless Adventurer.
Following the success of Cable & Wireless, Alan continued racing, helping the world renowned Steve Curtis run the Honda Series. He then went on to help Mike Lloyd run the tremendously successful Round Britain race in 2008.
Still active in powerboating racing, this great grandfather will turn 80 next month, but shows no signs of slowing down. “Age means very little to me,” he says. “The important thing is the experience I have amassed during a lifetime of powerboating and sailing, which I hope will help Team Britannia break the world record, which as I know is still one of the hardest and most complicated challenges to undertake.”
“The reason it is so tough is because it has so many elements to it: design, innovation, engineering, logistics, physical and mental tenacity, the weather and all the dangers you encounter at sea,” he added.
In addition to the fuel-efficient design, the boat will use a pollution-cutting Water-in-Diesel (WiDE) fuel emulsion to power the two race-tuned Fiat Power Train C13 500, 6 cylinder engines. The boat is being built by the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company based near Portsmouth, and they will be fitting the latest navigation and communications equipment from the British marine industry.
The record attempt will use the iconic Europa Point in Gibraltar as its timing mark, before going to Puerto Rico, Manzanillo, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and Malta to take on fuel.
Mr Priddy concluded: “I have known and admired Alan for many years. He is a titan of the powerboating community and I am delighted that we will be able to draw on his wealth of experience and expertise to make sure we smash the world record for Great Britain.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Team Britannia is a multi-million pound British bid to design and build the fastest and most fuel efficient semi-wave slicing powerboat to circumnavigate the globe for the much-coveted UIM world record, currently held by the New Zealander Pete Bethune at 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes.
The World Record Authorities (UIM) dictate that for a recognised circumnavigation the craft has to pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, and must start and finish the journey in the same place.
The boat is a completely new design from Professor Bob Cripps, former Technical Director of VT Halmatic. It has been designed in the UK and will be constructed in the Portsmouth area out of marine-grade aluminium. It encompasses “an exceptionally efficient hull,” which will cut fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent.
In addition to the design the vessel will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion, a mixture of diesel, water and emulsifying agent from Clean Fuel Ltd. This will reduce harmful emissions such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.
The effects of the emulsified fuel on the engines and the emissions will be monitored for the duration of the voyage and the results published online.
The boat is being built out of marine-grade aluminium by the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company based in Hampshire. The metal was produced by Blackburns Metals, and laser-cut by specialist firm Aalco in Southampton.
The boat will also showcase nearly a dozen leading marine companies, which are supporting the project with their expertise and equipment.
Team Britannia will launch their boat in 2017.
Boat specifications:
Length – 80 feet
Internal beam – 13 feet
External beam – 19 feet
Draft – 30 inches
Material – Marine grade aluminium, including nearly 12km of framing
Hull thickness – 8-10 mm
Build weight – 20 tonnes
Range 4,000 nautical miles
Engines – Two customised Fiat Power Train C13 500, 6 cylinders
Power – Each engine is capable of generating 500HP at 2,000 RPM
Water jets – Two Castoldi turbo drive 490 HC
Fuel – Emulsified diesel (diesel, water and a unique emulsion developed by Clean Fuel and its partners)
Navigation station – Raymarine
Communications equipment - Standard Horizon & Iridium Everywhere
Batteries – Mastervolt
Total crew – 20 (12 onboard with 5 rotating on and off the boat plus 3 shore based)
Crew clothing - Sebago
For more information and regular updates visit: www.teambritannia.co.uk or @team_britannia
For media inquiries, please contact:
Alistair Thompson of Media Intelligence Partners
alistair@teambritanniapr.com | 07970 162 225