The team
The project was set up by Alan Priddy, a British sailor known across the Channel for his many records in powerboating and his world tours. He is surrounded by a crew of amateurs, technicians and enthusiasts, tempted by adventure.
The route
Team Britannia is embarking on an attempt to break the round-the-world record on a motor boat owned by New Zealand's Pete Bethune in 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes. The UIM body in charge of validating the record only authorises a few ports of call. The team chose the following steps:
- Departure - Gibraltar
- Bahia de Fajardo, Puerto Rico
- Crossing the Panama Canal
- Acapulco, Mexico
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Guam
- Singapore
- Salalah, Oman
- Crossing the Suez Canal
- Valletta, Malta (possibly)
- Arrival - Gibraltar
The departure is scheduled for October 2016.
The boat
For this challenge, Alan Priddy chose to call Bob Cripps, former Technical Director of VT Halmatic, a specialist in fast military boats. This collaboration resulted in a specially designed 80-foot aluminum boat.
Features and characteristics
- Length 24 m
- Width 4.90 m
- Draught 76 cm
- Weight 15 T
- Fuel capacity 30,000 litres
- Autonomy 4000 Miles
- Engines: 2 x Fiat PowerTrain C13 500. 6 Diesel in-line cylinders. 500 HP @ 2000 rpm
- Thrusters: 2 x Castoldi Turbo Drive 490 HC Waterjet
Innovative fuel and recycled materials
The boat will be built with 60% recycled aluminum to limit the project's ecological footprint.
The fuel will be Cleanfuel, a water and diesel emulsion, already mentioned in these columns. It reduces pollutant emissions and is more energy efficient.
Team Britannia's attempt will validate the project's technical innovations.
