power boat circumnavigationworld record attempt 2017

Team Britannia__________________________

FLYING THE FLAG FOR BRITISH DESIGN AND INNOVATION

Team Britannia is a multi-million pound British bid to design and build the fastest and most fuel efficient semi wave-slicing powerboat to circumnavigate the globe for the much-coveted UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) world record.

The challenge is one of the toughest world records and has only been tried three times. The first 113ft Cable & Wireless Adventurer set the world record in 1998. It took 74 days and 21 hours. The second, Spirit of Cardiff ended in failure in 2001 and finally Kiwi Pete Bethune the current record holder in 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes.

“This is the pinnacle of endurance motorsport.”

Excalibur__________________________

A REVOLUTIONARY ECO-BOAT

Excalibur is a completely new design, from Professor Bob Cripps, former Technical Director of VT Halmatic. It has been designed in the UK and is being constructed on the south coast out of marine grade aluminium by Paul Johnson and the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company.

It encompasses an exceptionally efficient hull, which will allow it to slice through the waves under the constant propulsion of her twin engines. This design will cut fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent, with no loss in performance, cutting down on pollution and time-consuming refuelling stops.

Massive fuel tanks will enable the team to complete the seven 3,800 mile legs of the voyage and break the existing record by up to 10 days.

“Excalibur will showcase the best of the UK’s marine sector.”

Photos by Johnny Black

alan priddy__________________________

TEAM BRITANNIA IS SKIPPERED BY ALAN PRIDDY

The boat will be crewed by a team of 12, skippered by Alan Priddy. He is an ocean racing legend. He learnt to sail when he was just seven and had his first speedboat at the age of 11. He has held 37 world records and 12 British records.

In 2002 he attempted to circumnavigate the world in a rigid hulled inflatable (RIB), but had to abort after a medical emergency on board forced a detour. In 2003 he set the World RIB Record for a transatlantic of just 103 hours – a record that still stands. In 2008 he completed a circumnavigation in the Lively Lady, Sir Alec Rose’s iconic yacht crewed by young adults from deprived areas of Portsmouth.

“Alan is a legend in the boating community.Whether sailing Lively Lady or speeding across the Atlantic in a RIB, he is one of this country’s leading

maritime adventurers.”

Photo by Johnny Black

wounded & injured__________________________

UNDERPINNING OUR DEDICATION

In 2014 while walking past the Tower of London’s magnificent poppy display, Alan, Team Britannia’s chief engineer Steve Mason and medic, Dr Jan Falkowski, (formerly British Army) were so moved by the tribute, that they made a commitment to work with wounded and injured servicemen and women.

Since that day, the Team made a commitment to take up to five veterans on each leg of the voyage, while others will join our shore-based support group. The veterans will be drawn from all three branches of the armed forces. They will be put through a rigorous selection process, including sea survival and powerboat qualifications.

All the servicemen/women are wounded, injured or sick (WIS).

“This is not a pleasure cruise and there are no passengers on board the boat. All of our crew will play a full part in

smashing this world record.”Photo by Andy Bates

supportive partners__________________________

WORKING WITH TRUE HEROS

According to a recent study from King’s College London, there are around 83,000 former servicemen and women who are still suffering from their physical or mental injuries from the wars of the last 25 years.

Team Britannia is honoured that in this endeavour we are working with British Limbless Ex-Serviceman’s Association (BLESMA) to provide a number of wounded and injured servicemen/women an opportunity to join our crew.

We will harness their incredible can-do attitude, their passion and tenacity. It is this spirit that not only makes our armed forces the best in the world but will help us take back the round the world powerboat record for Great Britain.

BLESMA is providing funding for the training and support of the WIS crew-members, including medical support, transport and accommodation.

BLESMA supports limbless veterans, it was set up after the First World War to support the more than 40,000 men who returned from that conflict having lost limbs or eyes. Nearly 100 years on it is still supporting veterans for the duration of their lives.

“We are humbled by the incredible work of these organisations and are delighted to play a small part in

supporting some of their incredible members.”

Photo by Andy Bates

the route__________________________

GLOBAL EXPOSURE

The World Record Authorities (UIM) dictate that for a recognised circumnavigation, the craft has to pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and must start and finish the journey in the same place, completing a voyage of around 23,000 miles.

The 2017 record attempt route has been set as Gibraltar, Puerto Rico, Manzanillo, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman, Malta returning to Gibraltar.

On each of the stops, the boat will take on around 35,000 litres of fuel, food and other provisions. This will be loaded by Team Britannia’s formula 1 style pit crew who will arrive in advance of the boat in each country to minimise delays.

The pit crew is being provided by global logistic’s firm GAC, who employ over 9,000 people at more than 300 offices around the globe.

“The key to the success of every record attempt is having a great team, which is why we are using GAC to provide

all our logistics support. Every second we are in port with the engines idle is a second we are not

taking off the record.”

gibraltar__________________________

puerto rico__________________________

Manzanillo__________________________

honolulu__________________________

guam__________________________

singapore__________________________

oman__________________________

malta__________________________

gibraltar

statistics__________________________

JUST THE FACTS

Just like every performance sport, Formula 1, the America’s Cup or Tour de France this record is all about the numbers. This is why Alan and his team have spent months reviewing every inch of the boat, to save weight. They will use special mattresses that save 270kg compared with standard ones and have removed cooking equipment and the “heads” (otherwise know as the toilet). All the food on board has been freeze dried, while water for drinking, food and washing will be made on demand using a desalination machine.

Fuel stops have been cut to just seven, by enlarging the six fuel tanks, giving the boat a range of nearly 4,000 nautical miles. Global logistics company GAC will ensure that all the stores and bunkering will be ready at the quayside of each stop, while the specially designed venting system will allow the boat to be refuelled and ready to go in just a few hours.

All of this will help Team Britannia cut up to 10 days off of the current record of 60 days, 23 hour and 49 minutes.

“This is the pinnacle of endurance motorsport. It has only been tried three time since records began. It is

23,000 miles of grit and determination.”

Length80FT OF MARINE GRADE ALUMINIUM

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Material12.5KM OF FRAMING & 15 MILES OF METAL

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rangeAN AVERAGE OF 4,000 NAUTICAL MILES

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fuel35,000 LITRES OF DIESEL

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enginesTWO CUSTOM FIAT POWER TRAIN C13 500, 6 CYLINDERS

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power500BHP FROM EACH ENGINE / TOP SPEED CIRCA 50MPH

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CoverageREADERSHIP OF TB / 51.6 MILLION / APRIL-DECEMBER 2016

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clean fuel__________________________

GETTING TECHNICAL

The vessel will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion, a mixture of diesel, water and emulsifier, that when burnt reduces harmful emissions. Initial testing indicates that the new emulsion could cut particulate matter by 90 per cent and NOX by 60 per cent.

The British company behind the emulsion, Clean Fuel Ltd along with its’ partners have pioneered new technology that shows it is possible to deliver racing speeds and performance while being green.

Clean Fuel produces a stable emulsion by mixing diesel, water and an emulsifying agent together which burns more efficiently and as the water will be drawn from the sea to improve the boat’s range.

The effects of the emulsified fuel on the engines and the emissions will be monitored for the duration of the voyage and the results published by Clean Fuel online in real time.

“Our goal is very simple, to win the world record and to prove you can do it in an environmentally-friendly

way, which is why we are using Clean Fuel.”

Notes to editors__________________________

Team Britannia is building a media plan that will maximise interview and story opportunities. It will include a number of “milestone” events ahead of the record attempt in early 2017. We will be formally announcing the crew, major sponsors and partners, key stages in the building process such as the hull being turned, the boat’s naming along with regular interview opportunities with the crew and technical staff .

All of this will culminate in a weeklong nautically-themed festival in Gibraltar ahead of the record attempt and a sumptuous Champagne Gala Reception on board the five star Sunborn Hotel for those connected with the project, sponsors, dignitaries and over 100 journalists and broadcasters.

During the record attempt our partners at CobWeb and Iridium will stream real time data on the boats performance, speed, position and even crew welfare to our race headquarters in Fareham. We will also hold a series of “live” interviews during each of the seven stages.

Following the successful completion of the record attempt, the vessel will become a regular fixture on the global boat show circuit. It will include the high profile European shows such as: London, Southampton, Cowes Week, Dublin, Monaco, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Grand Pavois (La Rochelle) Stockholm, Seatec (Italy) Portugal, Spain, Volga and Genoa.

The vessel will also visit the large international shows including: CNR Eurasia (Istanbul), China (Shanghai), Kuwait, Korea, Qatar, Sydney, Auckland, Miami, Atlantic City, Montreal, Boston and IBEX (Tampa).

www.teambritannia.co.uk / Twitter @team_britannia / Facebook @teambritannia

Proud to be working with Wounded and Injured Veterans supported by BLESMA