Earthrace over one-half way & back at full speed

On May 27, 2008

“Earthrace (Photo Harold Faretra)”       The 78 foot (24 metre) bi-engine fuelled Earthrace is again blazing at full speed across the Pacific Ocean on her way towards the remote isle of Palau, 2150 marine kilometres east, as she regattas round the world aiming to break the 1998 Cable & Wireless record of 74 days 23 hours & 53 minutes.

Now more than 2,200 maritime kilometres at the of the record scold the heavily overloaded Earthrace is now travelling at respectable 20 kts. Captain Pete Bethune is irritating to make up gone time after running almost complete regatta Ieg on single diesel.

The crew has overloaded two huge 1000-litre fuel totes on the aft deck to extend the Earthrace range at top speed, but this extra weight slows her progress to twenty kts. Within day we should see the Earthrace speed creeping back up toward 22 kts.

Amazingly Chief Engineer Tino de Freitas repaired the burst high-pressure fuel line in less than one minute, noting it was uncomplicated fuel line that just couldn’t be repaired at sea.

The leftover turn about time of the three hour 50 minutes was spent transfering fuel, adding new fuel totes to the aft deck, & changing the motor oil.

Spirits were high as the crew departed Majuro headed on to Palau again capable to run at full speed & no longer fearful they might mislay the 2nd motor leaving them adrift in remote section of the Pacific.

The coming Ieg of Earthrace sees her across the “one-half way about” MARK & well on her way to smashing the existing world record of 75 days. This coming Ieg will besides be one of the two most hot & steamy. The crew is now securely riding the seven to eight degree north latitude line where the conditions tend to be hot, humid & uncomfortable in the cramped Earthrace cabin. This will put maximum strain on the big 540 hp Cummins engines, as the air intake temperatures will be at the highest point for the complete regatta.

After reaching Palau, Earthrace will head towards Singapore another 2200 kilometres away previously crossing the Indian Ocean to Cochin, up to Oman, then Port Said & back to Sagunto in Spain.

by Crew Yachtwork & Powerboat-World.com