June 27, 2008 -- The biodiesel-powered boat Earthrace has been traveling around the planet for more than two years to raise awareness for biologically produced fuels -- cooking oils, plant matter, even fat. On Friday, it pulled into port in Sagunto, Spain, setting a new record for the quickest journey around the globe by a powerboat.
"I'm looking forward to a meat pie and a bottle of champagne," Earthrace's New Zealander captain Pete Bethune said shortly before the boat's arrival.
Earthrace's 60-day voyage shaved more than 14 days off a record set in 1998 by a boat named Cable & Wireless Adventurer.
"They're looking pretty cheerful at the moment," said Earthrace spokeswoman Beverly Bailey. "They have their families with them."
The 78-foot trimaran swept across the finish line shortly before 9 a.m. EDT. With its distinctive upswept hulls, the boat looks like a space-age grasshopper sitting on water. It was welcomed to port by a large crowd of spectators.
The Earthrace crew weathered some dark days in its two bids for the record. Rock bottom was a March 2007 accident off the coast of Guatemala when Earthrace collided with a small fishing boat, killing one person. Bethune was hauled into court to explain what happened.
The crew pressed on, but their troubles were not over. A month later, hampered by mechanical problems, structural issues, bad weather and a host of other nagging problems, Bethune called it quits.
The respite was short-lived. By December, Bethune was ready to try again. He had a new sponsor willing to provide all the 165,000 liters of biodiesel required for the journey and a rejuvenated spirit. The boat departed from Sagunto in Spain on April 27.
Earthrace's adventures are not over. The boat will tour Europe over the next few months and then journey to Australia in time for the 2009 Auckland International Boat Show.
Bethune plans to return to his wife and children in New Zealand and resume the laid-back Kiwi lifestyle he abandoned in the name of environmental activism. He also intends to write a book about his adventure.
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