Team Britannia

Team Britannia confirm new March start date for round-the-world-record bid

Team Britannia will confirm the new March start date for the round the world record attempt today.

Ocean racing legend and Team Britannia’s skipper Alan Priddy will announce that his 80ft powerboat will set off from Gibraltar on Sunday 12th March.

Mr Priddy will make the announcement in Gibraltar ahead of a weekend of ThunderCat speedboat racing in Catalan Bay. The event will see 24 of the 21-foot inflatable catamarans battle it out for a place on the podium in the high octane, high thrills powerboat series.

“My team and I have been busy studying more than 10 years of weather data to identify the next available window for the record attempt. I am delighted to confirm the new start date of Sunday 12th March 2017”, he will say.

The record attempt was delayed last month due to a technical problem with the two stern hull plates. The “irrevocable safety problem” meant the plates had to be re-cut and work on the boat had to all but stop.

The delay meant that Mr Priddy and his crew would miss an important weather window that would allow them to avoid the worst of the hurricane and typhoon seasons on the 23,000 mile voyage that will see the boat cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and pass through the Panama and Suez canals.

Mr Priddy continued: “Earlier in the month we had to announce the delay of our departure due to an irrevocable safety problem with the two stern hull plates. This has now been rectified and the new plates will arrive shortly, allowing the plating of the hull to be completed. Once in place, we can turn the hull over and slide the engines, Castoldi jets and fuel tanks into place, before craning into place the wheelhouse.

“Then we can start on the kit out, including installing the high tech communications and navigation equipment from industry leaders Raymarine.”

The boat is now expected to be launched in late November, before undertaking an extended programme of sea trials, which will ensure it exceeds all safety requirements before setting off on the 23,000 mile voyage.

Mr Priddy continued: “This is great news for the project and I want to thank my whole team, both on board and shore based - especially Aalco and the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company for their unstinting efforts in making sure we have the very best boat. Their hard work and dedication will maximise our chances of smashing that world record next year.

“I also want to thank all of our supporters and sponsors who continue to make this project possible. Their unwavering support and commitment has been a source of inspiration to us all. Finally I am pleased to confirm we have some big announcements going forward, from who will be on board, our official timekeeper, to the international clothing supplier who will be ensuring our team have the very best possible kit.” 

The boat was designed by Professor Bob Cripps, former Technical Director of VT Halmatic. It has been designed to slice the waves, rather than surfing them, with its super-efficient design, a variant of the “fast displacement hull”. This will reduces fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent and should make the 23,000 mile trip smoother.

In addition to the fuel efficient design the vessel will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion developed by Clean Fuel Ltd, a mixture of diesel, water and emulsifier, that when burnt reduces harmful emissions such as particulate matter and NOx.

Inside the boat will be the latest radar, safety and communications equipment from Raymarine and Iridium Communications.

Mr Priddy concluded: “I look forward to seeing everyone in Gibraltar next year.”

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.

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 using recycled metals and cut by specialist firm Aalco in Southampton.

The whole construction process is expected to take around three 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 on 12th March 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 – 8mm

Build weight – 15 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

Crew – 12

  

For media inquiries, please contact:

Alistair Thompson of Media Intelligence Partners

alistair@mippr.co.uk | 07970 162 225