It looks like a catamaran or is it a plane? Wherever it goes, it stirs curiosity. This Friday when it arrives in Road Town, the BVI will have its opportunity to find out what Earthrace really is. 

Earthrace, valued at $3 million is a 24-meter tri-hull wavepiercer built in New Zealand, is the world’s fastest eco-boat. It has smashed the world speed record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe, completing the journey in 60 days, 23 hours 49 mins, and knocking almost 14 days off the previous record. It is run by a team of international volunteers from New Zealand, UK, Sweden, Guyana and Hungary, and was completed as a carbon neutral project.

Part of the Earthrace aim to be a carbon neutral project was made possible through downwithcarbon.org. This is a UK-based, not for profit organisation that allows consumers and companies to offset their carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits. The credits are then used to invest in sustainable project that reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, whilst also benefiting local communities in developing nations.

Earthrace, which runs on 100 percent biodiesel, is the first boat in the world to use hemp composite. This is visible on the floor of the helm. Hemp is renewable, unlike carbon and Kevlar, and is strong and versatile enough for medium impact protection.

The hull shape is extremely efficient, reducing fuel consumption compared with conventional craft. 

During construction, Earthrace used a number of recycled products (such as ice cream containers) collected from local Schools. In exchange, the team provided the schools with discarded MDF and pine to use in their woodworking departments.

The boat and her crew had to overcome many obstacles, including huge storms, replacing a propeller in Singapore, losing an engine in the middle of the ocean, fuel leakages, a huge backlog of traffic in the Panama Canal and a depressing journey through an offshore rubbish dump in the North Pacific.

To find out more about Earthrace and its amazing journey, please visit www.earthrace.net

A Press Conference hosted by the BVI Tourist Board will be held on Friday at the Road Town Ferry Dock to celebrate Earthrace’s arrival. Government Officials, media houses and local students will be invited to tour the vessel.

“We are proud to welcome the Earthrace boat to the BVI, and look forward to hosting the BVI Media, schools and general public to this historic event,” said Hadassah Ward, Acting Director of Tourism.

The Public is also invited to view the Boat from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm on Friday at the Road Town Waterfront jetty. Earthrace will also be visiting Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda on October Saturday and Sunday.

For more information please contact Lynette Harrigan or Vionie Pickering at the BVI Tourist Board at 494-3134.

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