Earthrace over half way and back at full speed

'Earthrace (Photo Peter Faretra)' Earthrace Media Click Here to view large photo

The 78 foot (24 metre) bi-diesel fuelled Earthrace is again blazing at full speed across the Pacific Ocean on her way towards the remote island of Palau, 2150 nautical miles east, as she races round the world aiming to break the 1998 Cable & Wireless record of 74 days 23 hours and 53 minutes.

Now more than 2,200 nautical miles ahead of the record rate the heavily loaded Earthrace is now travelling at a respectable 20 knots. Skipper Pete Bethune is trying to make up lost time after running nearly a complete race leg on a single engine.

The team has loaded two large 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 knots. Within a day we should see the Earthrace speed creeping back up toward 22 knots.

Amazingly Chief Engineer Tino de Freitas repaired the burst high-pressure fuel line in less than one minute, noting it was a simple fuel line that just could not be repaired at sea.

The remaining turn around time of the 3 hour 50 minutes was spent transfering fuel, adding new fuel totes to the aft deck, and changing the engine oil.

Spirits were high as the crew departed Majuro headed on to Palau again able to run at full speed and no longer worried they might lose the second engine leaving them adrift in a remote section of the Pacific.

The coming leg of Earthrace sees her across the 'half way around' mark and well on her way to smashing the existing world record of 75 days. This coming leg will also be one of the two most hot and steamy. The crew is now securely riding the seven to eight degree north latitude line where the conditions tend to be hot, humid and 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 race.

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