Team Britannia

Revolutionary air mattress from Yorkshire to give comfort to Team Britannia’s 12 strong crew

A revolutionary air mattress from Yorkshire will give comfort to the Team Britannia’s 12-strong crew on their 23,000 mile record-breaking voyage.

The new mattress, which is made out of soft and durable thermoplastic, creates a matrix of small air pockets so it is incredibly light compared to standard bedding.

The mattresses designed by Simon Dickinson the Managing Director of Park It Here Products Ltd have 140 individual pressure controlled air springs fitted inside each one - collectively weighing just 2.55kg. This compares to a standard single mattress, which weighs nearly 10 times that amount, at around 25kg.

Importantly for Team Britannia, this means a combined weight saving of around 270kg for the 12 mattresses on board, roughly the same weight of two fully grown men, or more than quarter of a metric ton.

Ocean racing legend and team principal Alan Priddy commented: “In my job weight is everything. The more weight we add to the boat, whether in fuel, crew or supplies, the slower we go.

“So we are constantly striving to cut down on those unnecessary kilos. This is why we will strip out all luxury items leaving just the bare essentials - but this is not an option when you need your crew to get a good night’s sleep so that they are rested and alert for their watches. So a product that is both comfortable and incredibly light ticks all the boxes.”

He added: “It is attention to these sorts of details that will help us smash the current world record of 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes held by Kiwi Pete Bethune, and bring the world record back home to the UK.”

The revolutionary mattresses from Yorkshire based Park It Here Products combines impressive weight saving with an incredible level of comfort, because of its patented Air Pressure Control System.

Mr Dickinson commented: “We are overjoyed that Alan and the crew of Team Britannia chose our revolutionary mattresses for their epic race around the world which will allow them the 100 per cent comfort they need while they are off watch.”

Alan Priddy added. “When we first heard of the product I immediately asked for a sample to try. When it arrived it was my intention to sleep on it for a couple of days and pass it around the crew. Four months later I am still sleeping on it! It is the best night’s sleep I have ever had.”

The mattresses will be on display on board the boat when it is launched in September at the Monaco Boat Show.

After the Monaco Boat Show, the boat will travel to Gibraltar, for a programme of sea trials. At this point the boat will also be “stripped” of all luxury items, including the toilet, stove, coffee machine and non-essential electronic devices such as the TV.

Finally, on 23rd October 2016, after a weeklong nautically-themed festival in Gibraltar, Team Britannia will set off on their world record attempt from the famous racing mark at Europa Point.

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 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 23rd October 2016 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 22