July 15th, 2009
Earthrace: Biofuel Eco-Boat Anniversary
It has been one year since the biofuel eco-boat Earthrace won the round-the-world powerboat speed record. The previous record holder was conventionally fuelled Cable and Wireless Adventurer. Incredibly Earthrace took almost two weeks off their time.
The trimaran set off from Sagunto, Spain on 27th April 2008, travelling 23.497 nautical miles. It was fuelled entirely by 100% biofuel and took 60 days and 49 minutes to cross the finishing line back in Spain.
We all know the arguments against using biofuels: devastation of rainforest and wildlife rich wilderness areas, so in the interest of clarity, be assured that the fuel was derived from waste cooking oils or canola oil grown in Europe.
Peter Bethune, skipper and founder of Earthrace showed that it is possible for a marine craft fuelled on biofuels alone, to travel faster and more efficiently across the world’s oceans, than any vessel using conventional fuels.
Surely it time for global governments to start investing in funding further research into alternative and sustainable fuel production together with serious legislation that will limit the damage caused by conventional fuels?