The 78-foot alternative fuel-powered boat named Earthrace is a wave-piercing trimaran that is part of a project to break the world record for global circumnavigation in a powerboat using renewable fuels. The Earthrace is powered solely by biodiesel fuel. In June of 2008, the boat successfully set a world record of 60 days for circumnavigating the globe. This beat by 13 days a 1998 record set by the Ocean 7 Adventurer.  Future plans for Earthrace include use by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in obstructing Japanese whaling vessels.

See the official Earthrace website for more information. You can also see this earlier post on PlanetSolar, another futuristic vessel.

With the increasing popularity of digital photography and the ability to publish photos on the Internet, powerboat enthusiasts have more opportunity than ever to share action pictures of their boats. It’s handy to know about special techniques for zooming in and photographing powerboats in motion. This article on Scream and Fly gives some fantastic tips for taking photographs at performance boating events.

This YouTube video shows the Pacific Blue Cruisecat.  This powercat’s twin Yanmar diesel engines and four blade aqua quad propellers provide economical cruising with plenty of power.  A smooth ride is guaranteed by the high efficiency planing hulls.  Front cabins with double beds and a full size galley are found below deck.  Watch the video and see for yourself how enjoyable powercat cruising can be.

The goal of the PlanetSolar project is to design and create a solar powered boat which will be the first such vessel to circumnavigate the globe.  The 60 ton vessel will operate from a combination of solar and battery power. This project aims to promote hybrid technology, spawn technological innovation in a variety of fields and bring about a change in mindsets.  The project is sponsored by Grand Chelem Management SA in Switzerland, with a number of partner companies providing support. 

The initial design for the PlanetSolar boat is a catamaran with a deck made up of an array of large solar panels.  The boat will be constructed by Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel, Germany.  The target speed of the completed vessel is 8 knots per hour.  Two sailors will be aboard on the around-the-world voyage.  For promotional outings, the boat will be designed to carry up to 50 people.  Read more about this fascinating project on the PlanetSolar website.