Earthrace Boat to Join Sea Shepherd Whaling Protest

[Dan F]

No matter which side of the whaling controversy you stand on, you've got to admit this is one cool boat!

I was able to meet the crew and check out the boat when they stopped in Portland on a publicity tour prior to the record attempt. It is by far the most unique boat I've ever seen. You can't tell in the lousy photos (old camera) but the toilet is made of carbon fiber!

Earthrace is a biodiesel-powered, wave-piercing, long-range powerboat. The entire thing is built from Kevlar composite. It goes 40 knots and can submerge more than 30' while "piercing" waves.

"On June 27 2008, the amazing Earthrace vessel set a new world record for a powerboat to circle the globe, and she did this with 100% renewable biodiesel fuel, and a net zero carbon footprint. The voyage was over 24,000 nautical miles, and took 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, smashing the ten year old previous reocord by over two weeks." -from Earthrace site

One year later skipper Pete Bethune has announced his plans to travel to the Southern Ocean to join Sea Shepherd's protests.

http://www.earthrace.net/index.php?section=1

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/world-news/2538605/Japan-asks-for-whaling-help

 

[ShadowStryder]

Seen this before. Wonder how it will hold up to the harsh conditions or Pack Ice.

 

[Onion01]

that boat is awesome! that stumpy little guy in blue looks cool too

 

[Eupterus]

I applaud their mission and hope it is a success.
Also, the boat is neat.

 

[Dan F]

that boat is awesome! that stumpy little guy in blue looks cool too

It really is an awesome boat. They built a 1/3 scale outboard-powered prototype that must still be cruising around New Zealand, too! The "stumpy little guy" isn't as cool as you might think...

 

[mkman]

nice looking boat, who owns it???

They should give the Japanese a hard time when they try to kill whales.