Team Britannia signs major partnership deal with GAC
In its role as Team Britannia’s official shipping and logistics partner, GAC will draw on the local contacts and expertise of its network of global offices and partners to provide the 80ft powerboat and its 12 strong crew with all the food, fuel and stores needed to complete the 23,000 mile voyage. The first-hand experience of the Group’s yachting and marine leisure experts at GAC Pindar Superyacht Services will also come into play for meeting the specific needs of the boat during its voyage, the Company said in a press release.
The agreement was signed today at GAC’s UK marine leisure logistics and superyacht services hub in Southampton by team principal and ocean racing legend Alan Priddy and GAC’s Superyacht Services Manager, Murray Bishop.
The news of the partnership comes less than 100 days before Team Britannia sets off on its world record attempt from Gibraltar at the end of October.
The boat has been designed by Professor Bob Cripps, former Technical Director of VT Halmatic. It will slice the waves, rather than surfing them, with its super-efficient design, a variant of the “fast displacement hull”. This reduces fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent and should make the 23,000 mile trip smoother.
In addition to the fuel efficient design the vessel will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion developed by Clean Fuel Ltd, a mixture of diesel, water and emulsifier, that when burnt reduces harmful emissions such as particulate matter and NOx.
Inside the boat will be the latest radar, safety and communications equipment from Raymarine and Iridium Communications.
Construction of the 80ft boat is well underway on the south coast at the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company. The boat’s 38 aluminium frames were fixed into a special upside down jig in June. Last month the wheelhouse and protective skin, or plating for the hull was cut, and work started welding them together. Once the six 5833 litre fuel tanks have been slid into the hull, the whole boat will be turned through 180 degrees, ready for kitting out.
In total there are more than 300 pieces of metal that will be welded together by master boatbuilder Paul Johnson and the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company on Hayling Island.
The boat will be launched in September 2016 and will then commence two weeks of sea trials, which will include sailing round Britain and London to Monaco, arriving in time for the famous boat show.
After the Monaco Boat Show, the boat will travel to Gibraltar, for a final programme of sea trials. At this point the boat will also be “stripped” of all luxury items.
Finally on 23rd October 2016, after a weeklong nautically themed festival in Gibraltar, Team Britannia will set off on their world record attempt from the famous racing mark at Europa Point.
To complete the record attempt the boat must pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and start and finish in the same place. The world record authorities, UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) have approved Team Britannia’s proposed route, which will start in Gibraltar and call at Puerto Rico, Manzanillo, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and Malta to take on fuel.
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 world record, currently held by the New Zealander Pete Bethune at 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes.
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.
The boat is a completely new design from Professor Bob Cripps, former Technical Director of VT Halmatic. It has been designed in the UK and will be constructed in the Portsmouth area out of marine-grade aluminium. It encompasses “an exceptionally efficient hull”, which will cut fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent.
In addition to the design the vessel will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion, a mixture of diesel, water and emulsifying agent from Clean Fuel Ltd. This will reduce harmful emissions such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.
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 online.
The boat is being built by the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company based in Hampshire, out of marine-grade aluminium. The metal was produced by using recycled metals and cut by specialist firm Aalco in Southampton.
The whole construction process is expected to take around three months before it starts a programme of sea trials around the UK.
The boat will also showcase nearly a dozen leading marine companies, which are supporting the project with their expertise and equipment.
Team Britannia will launch their record bid on 23rd October 2016 from Europa Point in Gibraltar.
Boat specifications: Length – 80 feet; Internal beam – 13 feet; External beam – 19 feet; Draft – 30 inches; Range 4,000 nautical miles
Engines – Two customised Fiat Power Train C13 500, 6 cylinders; Power – Each engine is capable of generating 500HP at 2,000 RPM
Water jets – Two Castoldi turbo drive 490 HC; Fuel – Emulsified diesel (diesel, water and a unique emulsion developed by Clean Fuel and its partners); Crew – 12.