Construction to begin on yacht for world record attempt

Construction has begun on a 24m yacht by British firm Aluminium Boat Company, which will attempt to break the current world record for the fastest circumnavigation by power boat.

Built as part of Alan Priddy’s Team Britannia project, the yacht is due to launch in September. Bob Cripps, former technical director of military boatbuilder VT Halmatic, has collaborated with the team to develop the monohull design of the vessel.

With three months estimated for the entire build process, the finished vessel will then undergo sea trials around the UK, before beginning the world record attempt in Gibraltar on 23rd October.

Alan Priddy, principal of Team Britannia commented, “Once the metal has been cut, there’s no turning back. We are committed to Bob Cripps’ revolutionary design that will save fuel and help us break the world record.”

One of the main features of the yacht’s design will be an emulsified fuel system, blending marine diesel with seawater. Power for the yacht will be provided by two customised 500hp Fiat C13 engines, boosted by Castoldi waterjets; combined, they will enable the yacht to achieve a cruising speed of 22 knots.

The 2016 record attempt will be overseen by Union Internationale Motonautique, the powerboat racing governing body. The vessel must pass through both the Suez and Panama Canals, before crossing the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and must start and finish the journey in the same place.

The current record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by powerboat currently stands at 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, set by Pete Bethune in 2008 on board 24m trimaran, Ady Gil.

For more information, visit Team Britannia.