Earthrace captain really, um, "getting into" next biodiesel circumnavigation attempt
The first Earthrace attempt ended in defeat back in April. The idea was to circle the globe on a biodiesel-powered boat, but there were just too many problems (and one deadly accident). But, the idea - and boat - are just too cool to be sent into history without a second chance, so the New Zealand team will try again in 2008, trying to beat the circumnavigation record of 74 days, 20 hours and 58 minutes. And, with a little special help from the captain, the second time just might be the charm.
The plan is to set sail from from Valencia, Spain at the beginning of March and "traverse the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans as well as the Panama and Suez canals in its more-than-24,000-nautical-mile journey," according to Fox News. That's similar to the plan from last time. What's new? How about a little bit of fat taken from the captain and turned into biodiesel? The Fox article says:
He [Pete Bethune] also made a symbolic gesture towards the project, undergoing liposuction with two other volunteers, which produced 10 liters - a bit more than 2 1/2 gallons - of human fat, enough to power the boat for 8 nautical miles.
That'll help. For the entire carbon-neutral trip, the Earthrace will need 165,000 liters of biodiesel. Anyone want to donate?
[Source: Fox News via Domestic Fuel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Domenick 5:06PM (12/20/2007)
That boat is like a tv show waiting to happen. *Scouring the seas in search of terrorists, pirates, and illegal fishing boats shadowed and assisted by a trio of super smart and empathic dolphins...
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Peter L 6:39AM (12/21/2007)
This is one amazing craft.
I was lucky enough to be able to board it last year for a tour.
check out the video I took after the tour
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=4EggCi3qM2A
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zaedrus 8:52AM (12/21/2007)
So is this how we eventually save ourselves from the "Obesity Epidemic" AND solve the foreign oil problem?
New Fight Club directive for rendering human fat... Paper Street BioFuel Company?
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GenWaylaid 2:37PM (12/21/2007)
Soylent Diesel is here!
Reply