Coup for Hayling Island Boatyard

OCEAN racing legend Alan Priddy has revealed he already has 15 orders for exact models of the super powerboat he hopes will help him break another world record.

Along with a large crew, Alan will attempt to complete the fastest ever circumnavigation of the globe in a powerboat.

He wants to shave seven days off the current 60-day record.

Team Britannia Is a £2.9 million British bid to design and build the fastest and most fuel efficient wave slicing powerboat to circumnavigate the globe for the much coveted UIM world record currently held by the New Zealander Pete Bethune at 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes.

The World Record Authorities (UIM) dictate that for recognised circumnavigation the craft has to pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and that the journey must start and finish in the same place.

The boat is a completely new design, from Professor Bob Cripps, former Technical Director of VT Halmatic. It has been designed in the UK and will be constructed in the Portsmouth area out of marine grade aluminium. It encompasses “an exceptionally efficient hull”, which will cut fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent.

In addition to the design, the vessel will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion, a mixture of diesel, water and emulsifying agent from SulNOx Fuel Fusions. This will reduce harmful emissions such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.

The effects of the emulsified fuel on the engines and the emissions will be monitored for the duration of the voyage and the results published on-line.

At the recent unveiling Alan revealed Hayling’s ABC Marine as the builder of the £2.9m 80ft powerboat which will have two flights of stairs and be big enough to sleep 14 people. Speaking from ABC Marine, in Mill Rythe, Alan said: ‘This is the day that we turned the tap on for everything to happen.

‘I’ve managed to put together a best of British team – British designers and manufacturers.

The metal was produced by Blackburn metals and laser cut by specialist firm Aalco in Southampton.

The whole construction process is expected to take four months before it start a three-month programme of sea trials in the Solent.

Team Britannia will launch their record bid in November 2015.

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