It took Ferdinand Magellan 6 years to circumnavigate the globe, costing him most of his crew and fleet, and ultimately, his life. Odds have improved since the 16^th century. The next attempted circumnavigation will try to slash the standing record from 75 days to 65 days. Even more impressive is the innovative boat and its fuel source – a combination of canola, soy and rape seed oils.

New Zealander, Pete Bethune, is out to change the world, one port at a time. The founder, skipper and CEO of the Earthrace team has constructed a radically unique boat. He is now in the process of funding his globalal trek. This past week, his team docked in Portland, Oregon. I spoke with him about his mission.

Several years ago, Bethune explained, he wanted to build a wave-piercing boat design to challenge the record. He partnered with Kiwi designer, Greg Loomes, who had been working on a 175’ tri-hulled ferry which could knife through the steep waves off the Mauritius Islands.

This animated simulation by Germanischer Lloyd demonstrates how the Earthrace craft cuts through waves to sustain an average speed of 30 knots. The innovative design replaces the up and down motion of surface riding vessels with a flatter trajectory that cuts through the waves. It creates a smoother ride for the craft and crew, and permits the boat to maintain constant high speed in varied ocean conditions.

Was the bio diesel fuel part of the original plan?

At the same time Bethune was pursuing a boat design, he was also completing his MBA in Sydney. When assigned a 20,000 word project, he chose alternative fuels as his topic. “At that stage, it was an interest for me, not a passion. And through the project, I became a real convert to the benefits of bio diesel. What happened was the two projects merged over six months and one day it dawned on me I should be building this boat on bio diesel.”

The message he is taking with him as he tours 60 cities around the globe is the efficiency and sustainability of his 100% bio diesel fuel made of canola, soy and rape seed oils. The mix reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 60-100%. Sulfur dioxide emissions are eliminated completely. Although the rate of consumption is slightly higher than fossil fuel, the risks are less. The flash point of bio diesel makes it much safer. And, if spilled into the ocean, it breaks down completely. This is the first attempt to run the global race using renewable fuels.

It’s a noble undertaking and a major commitment. The Earthrace site includes numerous videos of the successes and frustrations of the construction phase. Now that the boat is fully functional, the crew is working out the kinks to prepare for the ultimate 24,000 nautical mile powerboat challenge. The race is against the clock, not other boats.

“ Weather wise, statistically at least, March-April is the best time to go attempting this race record. You’ve got the Atlantic and Pacific generally flattening out. When we do the numbers on it, we think we should only get two storms in going right around the globe. If you go in the fall, you might run into 4 or 5 storms. March 1^st is the plan at this stage, leaving from Barbados, subject to the weather looking favorable at that time. If it’s unfavorable we might delay up to two or three weeks waiting for a window to open up for us.”

The race rules are few and simple. The boat must be less than 150’ in length. It must pass through both the Suez and Panama Canals. It must be refueled in port, not at sea. There are two possible routes, a northern and southern. The longer, northern route has no single leg longer than 900 nautical miles. That’s a critical factor, permitting the craft to carry less fuel. The shorter southern route includes several 2400 to 5000 km legs, requiring large fuel supplies and the associated weight.

When asked why he was doing this, Bethune answered, “It’s a very cool boat and a very cool project. I’m keen to have the coolness of that to rub off on bio diesel. Bio diesel needs to become a mainstream fuel. We need mom and dad, when they drop their kids off at school, filling up their car with a 20% bio blend. It needs to move on from there and become a mainstream fuel.”

At 41, Bethune is well on the way to his greatest adventure. A former oil exploration engineer, he has worked in New Zealand, the North Sea and North Africa. He founded CamSensor, which makes cameras that robotically perform automated quality control. His extensive list of Earthrace sponsors is proof of his tenacity - a valuable quality for his upcoming quest.

The race progress can be monitored through the virtual control panel. Details on contributions and sponsorships to support the team can be found at Earthrace.net.