Mudeford’s John Sandford Hart (51) is adding to his powerboating prowess by joining the crew of Team Britannia, the round-the-world record attempt.
Team Britannia, led by British ocean racing legend Alan Priddy, will use a revolutionary semi-wave slicing boat that will carve through the waves, rather than surfing them. The super-efficient design, a variant of the “fast displacement hull” will reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent and make the 24,000 mile trip smoother and faster.
The boat will be crewed by a team of 12, including up to five wounded or injured veterans (WIS), on each of the seven legs of the voyage who are being supported by the forces charity Blesma.
Mr Priddy commented: “It is great to have a fellow powerboat racer on board our record attempt – in what must be one of the world’s ultimate powerboats. John has multiple records to his name, and I hope Team Britannia’s will add to his illustrious collection.”
John added: “I cannot wait to get my hands on Team Britannia’s powerboat and get stuck in to breaking this world record. This has to be my toughest challenge yet, and it is great that I will be surrounded by ex-military crew members who are refusing to be defined by disability. I have always been clear that this attempt is a team effort and no individual is bigger than that. I started my love affair with boats when I was just 14, and the opportunity to be part of Team Britannia was just too exciting to refuse.”
John, who comes from Bangor in North Wales but now lives in Mudeford, Dorset, is the co-ordinator of Team Britannia’s veterans programme. A veteran himself, he lost one of his legs in a powerboat racing accident in 2002.
Despite his injury he has seven world records to his name – not all powerboat related. In 2011, he set the world record for the fastest completion of the London Marathon on crutches. He is also a ski instructor, and has said the first thing he will look for upon crossing the finishing line is a smile on the face of his fellow wounded and injured ex-military crewmates.
John now runs an import-export business called Stumpy’s Toy Town, which customises classic cars and motorcycles.
In addition to 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, who are based near Portsmouth and will be fitting the latest navigation and communications equipment from the British marine industry.
The record attempt will start in October 2017 using the iconic Europa Point in Gibraltar as its timing mark.
Mr Priddy concluded: “We are at a crucial and exciting point in the project. The boat is being built and we are putting together our team, both shore-based and those who will take part in this epic challenge. Getting the right team together is crucial if we are to smash the current record, so it is great to have John on board – he is a proven powerboater and has natural leadership qualities making him the perfect choice to co-ordinate and support our growing band of wounded and injured veterans.”
To complete the record attempt the boat must pass through the Suez and Panama Canals 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 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 October 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 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@mippr.co.uk | 07970 162 225