Earthrace trimaran having rough ride financially
From The New York Times:
A Boat Racing on Biodiesel, but Running Low on Money
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 - In early July, Pete Bethune, an amateur
sailor from New Zealand and a recent convert to environmentalism,
stepped aboard his new $2.4 million speedboat, filled up the tank
with a fuel made from animal fat and headed east from Auckland.
His goal was simple: to complete the fastest circumnavigation of the
globe in a motorboat while using nothing but biodiesel, renewable
fuel that can be made with salvaged French fry grease, refined
soybean oil and other organic and recycled oils. The record attempt
is due to start in March, from Barbados, after a North American tour
this fall meant to test and publicize the boat - called the Earthrace
- and raise money.
"I thought I'd have a sponsor give me $4 million and bankroll the
whole thing," said Mr. Bethune, 41. "And I still believe that."
But somewhere between Hawaii (where the boat refueled on biodiesel
made from the drippings of cruise liners' deep fryers) and Vancouver
(where it loaded up with fuel made from tallow, drawn from the hard
fat of sheep and cattle), the Earthrace almost ran out of gas - at
least financially.
For more, go
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/us/24grease.html
--Georgs
Georgs Kolesnikovs
Power Catamaran World
http://www.powercatamaranworld.com
I went aboard the boat in Marina del Rey on Sep 26 at 2:00 pm. The boat was moored such that I could walk alongside it and view it from the stern as well as dead on the bow.
A beautiful boat. I was the only visitor and the two crewmen let me wander around the
inside while they were below doing engine maintenance. I was reminded of the Mercury
space capsule--small windows, everything was exposed, all the wiring and tubes--a very business and
spartan vehicle. (The door to the head had a sign 'toilet' on it!) The seat of the helm
chairs were about five feet off the floor--I couldn't see how to get up into one to get a
captain's view. The windows were small, about eight feet above the floor,
and I felt like I wanted to be able to see
so much more. I felt like I was in a big tunnel. One area had two bunks stacked on each
side and the section in front had one bunk on each side--room for six. I saw no table or
lounging area or eating area. The sponsons on the sides did not hold fuel and the wings were for engine air. These guys are clearly on a mission. I asked about funding and they
said that it was tight, but they expected to complete their task.
-----Original Message-----
From: georgs@powercatamaranworld.com
To: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com
Sent: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 3:09 AM
Subject: [PCW] Earthrace trimaran having rough ride financially
From The New York Times:
A Boat Racing on Biodiesel, but Running Low on Money
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 - In early July, Pete Bethune, an amateur
sailor from New Zealand and a recent convert to environmentalism,
stepped aboard his new $2.4 million speedboat, filled up the tank
with a fuel made from animal fat and headed east from Auckland.
His goal was simple: to complete the fastest circumnavigation of the
globe in a motorboat while using nothing but biodiesel, renewable
fuel that can be made with salvaged French fry grease, refined
soybean oil and other organic and recycled oils. The record attempt
is due to start in March, from Barbados, after a North American tour
this fall meant to test and publicize the boat - called the Earthrace
- and raise money.
"I thought I'd have a sponsor give me $4 million and bankroll the
whole thing," said Mr. Bethune, 41. "And I still believe that."
But somewhere between Hawaii (where the boat refueled on biodiesel
made from the drippings of cruise liners' deep fryers) and Vancouver
(where it loaded up with fuel made from tallow, drawn from the hard
fat of sheep and cattle), the Earthrace almost ran out of gas - at
least financially.
For more, go
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/us/24grease.html
--Georgs
Georgs Kolesnikovs
Power Catamaran World
http://www.powercatamaranworld.com
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