Taunton’s Jeremy (Jez) Scarratt (57) is returning to the seas in civvies by stepping aboard the crew of Team Britannia, a new round-the-world record attempt.
Team Britannia, led by British ocean racing legend Alan Priddy, will use a revolutionary eco boat that carves through the waves, rather than surfing them. The super-efficient design, will reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent and make the 24,000 mile trip smoother and faster.
The 80ft aluminium boat will be crewed by a team of 12, including up to five wounded, and injured servicemen and women on each of the seven legs of the voyage who are being supported by veterans charity Blesma.
Mr Priddy commented: “I am delighted to welcome Jez to the Team Britannia crew. A key aspect of Team Britannia’s mission is to recognise the outstanding service of our armed forces, which is why I was keen to recruit ex-servicemen and women to be in my crew. Jez’s determination and courage will be a real asset to the team as we aim to bring the world record back to Great Britain.”
Jez added: “Team Britannia is an amazing opportunity as well as a huge physical and mental challenge. Serving as a Royal Marine certainly isn’t a cushy job, and hopefully that has prepared me for what will be an arduous and demanding voyage.
“Alan has brought together a great team, blending experience and skill. Everyone onboard the boat has undertaken an extensive training programme and we are looking forward to setting off and smashing the world record.”
Having served 14 months on HMS Brighton as a Royal Marine, Jez is certainly no stranger to the open seas – he counts chasing a Russian warship off the coast of Iceland in a force 10 storm as just one of his nautical experiences!
Team Britannia will not be the only occasion when Jez has represented Britain on the global stage. In 2016 he took part in the Paralympic opening ceremony – a role he also undertook in 2012.
In addition to fuel-efficient design, the boat will use a pollution cutting Water-in-Diesel (WiDE) fuel emulsion power the two race-tuned Fiat Power Train C13 500, 6 cylinder engines. The boat is being built by the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company who are based near Portsmouth and will be fitting the latest navigation and communications equipment from the British marine industry.
It will be launched in late 2016 and will then commence sea trials. The record attempt will get underway early next year using the iconic Europa Point in Gibraltar as its timing mark.
To complete the record attempt the boat must pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and start and finish in the same place. The world record authorities, UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) have approved Team Britannia’s proposed route, which will start in Gibraltar and call at Puerto Rico, Manzanillo, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and Malta to take on fuel.
Mr Priddy concluded: “We are at a crucial and exciting point in the project. The boat is being built, with the hull being turned over on Monday and we are putting together a top team, both shore-based and those who will take part in this epic challenge.
“I really can’t underplay the importance of getting the right team together if we are to demolish the current record, so I am glad we have Jez’s physical, mental resilience and sense of humour in the crew.”
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, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator 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 by the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company based in Hampshire, out of marine-grade aluminium. The metal was produced by Blackburn metals and laser-cut by specialist firm Aalco in Southampton.
The whole construction process is expected to take around nine months before it starts a programme of sea trials around the UK.
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 record bid in spring 2017 from Europa Point in Gibraltar.
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 media inquiries, please contact:
Alistair Thompson of Media Intelligence Partners
alistair@mippr.co.uk | 07970 162 225