- 16 March 2006 -
Around the world in 65 days

THE EARTHRACE project has been established to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat. The 24 m (78 ft) long composite boat was constructed at the Auckland, New Zealand, yard of Calibre Boatbuilders. It will use only bio-diesel renewable fuel, aiming to raise awareness about the use of sustainable resources.

At 24 000 nautical miles, this is the world’s longest race. The current record of 75 days was set in 1998 by Cable & Wireless. The Earthrace team expects to beat this by at least five days. To achieve this the boat will have to travel at high speed (up to 45 knots) in rough as well as flat sea conditions.

The boat was built using a ‘mouldless’ strip plank method. In principle, this involves setting up a series of transverse frames and/or bulkheads. Core material ‘planks’ are then attached to the frames thereby creating the hull shape. Following fairing, the outer skin reinforcements are laminated into place. The hull is then rotated 180°, any temporary frames are removed and the inner skin reinforcements are applied. In the case of the Earthrace, the hull was produced as two half mouldings. Frames were set up and DIAB core ‘planks’ were applied. Then the inner skin carbon reinforcements were laminated into place. The half hulls were then joined together longitudinally, the boat was rotated and the outer skin laminates were applied.

Earthrace; www.earthrace.net

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