PRESS RELEASE FROM PALAU, MICRONESIA!

For Immediate Release from the
Balau Royal Yacht Club
EARTHRACE returns to Palau, Micronesia.

What is earthrace?
The goal of Earthrace is to set a new world record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe, running 100% renewable biodiesel fuel, and with a net zero carbon footprint. The amazing Earthrace boat will make the attempt starting from Sagunto in Spain. Earthrace is also undertaking a two year promotional tour, visiting 100 great cities around the globe. The crew meet local people, talk about their experiences, and most of all connect with people about the need to get renewable fuels into our energy mix and to inspire them to do something themselves to minimise their impact on the environment.

KOROR, PALAU, May 29, 2008:

Earthrace, the world’s fastest eco-boat returns to Palau on its second attempt to break the Round-The-World record set by the vessel Cable and Wireless back in 1998. The 24,000 nautical mile journey began in Spain and has included crossing the Atlantic Ocean, transiting the Panama Canal, and crossing the Eastern Pacific enroute to Hawaii. The current leg of the journey now underway took EARTHRACE from Hawaii to Majuro, Marshall Islands with Palau as the next refueling stop before heading for Singapore.

The complete round-the-world itinerary includes Sagunto (Spain) – Horta (Azores) – San Juan (Puerto Rico) – Colon (Panama Canal, Panama) – Manzanillo (Mexico) – San Diego (USA) – Maalaea Harbor, Maui (Hawaii) – Majuro (Marshall Islands) – Koror (Palau) – Singapore – Kochi/Cochin (India) – Salalah (Oman) – Port Said (Suez Canal, Egypt) – Sagunto (Spain).

EARTHRACE powered in to Hawaii well ahead of the record time however she suffered a fuel line failure shortly after departure that reduced her to one engine, slowing her progress from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands where repairs were made to get her back in the race. Even on one engine, EARTHRACE manages 16 knots so despite the delays, she remains very much in the race.

Skipper Peter Bethune said: “The progress we’ve made so far is nothing short of outstanding, but it’s nervous times. There are so many possible situations that can slow
you down when you take on a challenge as ambitious as this, but the team has so far managed to overcome every obstacle that’s been thrown at us. “We’ve conquered the Atlantic and most of the Pacific, at an average speed of 20 knots. The engine problem is a setback but we have overcome challenges all the way through the race so far.”

Earthrace is already beyond the half-way point on its historic round-the-world record attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a vessel powered by renewable bio-diesel, a fuel created from plants and waste materials. Given diminishing fossil fuel reserves worldwide as highlighted by rapidly escalating gasoline costs, EARTHRACES goal to focus attention on the need to develop renewable sources of energy makes more and more sense.

EARTHRACE is crewed by skipper Peter Bethune, New Zealand; Robert Drewett, Britian; Mark Russel, Britian; and Adam Carlson, Sweden. The Royal Belau Yacht Club bestowed Lifetime Honorary Membership on Skipper, Peter Bethune during his last visit to Palau, recognizing him for his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the art of circumnavigation.

EARTHRACE is scheduled to arrive in Koror, Palau late Saturday evening, May 31. The public is invited to join the Royal Belau Yacht Club in giving EARTHRACE and her crew a warm welcome to Palau at the Royal Belau Yacht Club, located at Sam’s Tours in Malakal, immediately following port clearance and refueling, Saturday evening.

On Sunday, EARTHRACE is open to the public for a unique opportunity to get a close up view of this radical wave-piercing high speed craft.

EARTHRACE is scheduled to depart late Sunday, June 1 or early Monday, June 2.

For more information, please contact the Royal Belau Yacht Club at 488-4382 or contact Sam’s Tours at 488-7267.

EARTHRACE on-line: www.earthrace.net

Tags: EARTHRACE, Environment, Conservation, Marine, History, biodiesel