Team Britannia is attempting to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat. They have designed and built a semi wave-slicing powerboat called Excalibur, which incorporates an efficient hull to reduce fuel consumption by 30%. The boat will be skippered by ocean racing legend Alan Priddy and carry up to five wounded or injured military veterans on each leg of the voyage. Their goal is to break the existing record of 60 days, 23 hours, and 49 minutes by up to 10 days, while showcasing British marine innovation and supporting veterans.

1. power boat circumnavigation
world record attempt 2017

2. Team Britannia
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FLYING THE FLAG FOR BRITISH DESIGN AND INNOVATION
Team Britannia is a multi-million pound British bid to design and build the fastest
and most fuel efficient semi wave-slicing powerboat to circumnavigate the globe
for the much-coveted UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) world record.
The challenge is one of the toughest world records and has only been tried three
times. The first 113ft Cable & Wireless Adventurer set the world record in 1998. It
took 74 days and 21 hours. The second, Spirit of Cardiff ended in failure in 2001
and finally Kiwi Pete Bethune the current record holder in 60 days, 23 hours and
49 minutes.
“This is the pinnacle of endurance motorsport.”

3. Excalibur
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A REVOLUTIONARY ECO-BOAT
Excalibur is a completely new design, from Professor Bob Cripps, former Technical
Director of VT Halmatic. It has been designed in the UK and is being constructed
on the south coast out of marine grade aluminium by Paul Johnson and the
Aluminium Boatbuilding Company.
It encompasses an exceptionally efficient hull, which will allow it to slice through
the waves under the constant propulsion of her twin engines. This design will cut
fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent, with no loss in performance, cutting down
on pollution and time-consuming refuelling stops.
Massive fuel tanks will enable the team to complete the seven 3,800 mile legs of
the voyage and break the existing record by up to 10 days.
“Excalibur will showcase the best of the UK’s marine
sector.”
Photos by Johnny Black

4. alan priddy
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TEAM BRITANNIA IS SKIPPERED BY ALAN PRIDDY
The boat will be crewed by a team of 12, skippered by Alan Priddy. He is an ocean
racing legend. He learnt to sail when he was just seven and had his first speedboat
at the age of 11. He has held 37 world records and 12 British records.
In 2002 he attempted to circumnavigate the world in a rigid hulled inflatable (RIB),
but had to abort after a medical emergency on board forced a detour. In 2003
he set the World RIB Record for a transatlantic of just 103 hours – a record that
still stands. In 2008 he completed a circumnavigation in the Lively Lady, Sir Alec
Rose’s iconic yacht crewed by young adults from deprived areas of Portsmouth.
“Alan is a legend in the boating community.
Whether sailing Lively Lady or speeding across the
Atlantic in a RIB, he is one of this country’s leading
maritime adventurers.”
Photo by Johnny Black

5. wounded & injured
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UNDERPINNING OUR DEDICATION
In 2014 while walking past the Tower of London’s magnificent poppy display,
Alan, Team Britannia’s chief engineer Steve Mason and medic, Dr Jan Falkowski,
(formerly British Army) were so moved by the tribute, that they made a
commitment to work with wounded and injured servicemen and women.
Since that day, the Team made a commitment to take up to five veterans on each
leg of the voyage, while others will join our shore-based support group. The
veterans will be drawn from all three branches of the armed forces. They will be
put through a rigorous selection process, including sea survival and powerboat
qualifications.
All the servicemen/women are wounded, injured or sick (WIS).
“This is not a pleasure cruise and there are no passengers
on board the boat. All of our crew will play a full part in
smashing this world record.”
Photo by Andy Bates

6. supportive partners
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WORKING WITH TRUE HEROS
According to a recent study from King’s College London, there are around 83,000
former servicemen and women who are still suffering from their physical or
mental injuries from the wars of the last 25 years.
Team Britannia is honoured that in this endeavour we are working with British
Limbless Ex-Serviceman’s Association (BLESMA) to provide a number of wounded
and injured servicemen/women an opportunity to join our crew.
We will harness their incredible can-do attitude, their passion and tenacity. It is
this spirit that not only makes our armed forces the best in the world but will help
us take back the round the world powerboat record for Great Britain.
BLESMA is providing funding for the training and support of the WIS crew-
members, including medical support, transport and accommodation.
BLESMA supports limbless veterans, it was set up after the First World War to
support the more than 40,000 men who returned from that conflict having lost
limbs or eyes. Nearly 100 years on it is still supporting veterans for the duration
of their lives.
“We are humbled by the incredible work of these
organisations and are delighted to play a small part in
supporting some of their incredible members.”
Photo by Andy Bates

7. the route
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GLOBAL EXPOSURE
TheWorldRecordAuthorities(UIM)dictatethatforarecognisedcircumnavigation,
the craft has to pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of
Cancer and the Equator and must start and finish the journey in the same place,
completing a voyage of around 23,000 miles.
The 2017 record attempt route has been set as Gibraltar, Puerto Rico, Manzanillo,
Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman, Malta returning to Gibraltar.
On each of the stops, the boat will take on around 35,000 litres of fuel, food and
other provisions. This will be loaded by Team Britannia’s formula 1 style pit crew
who will arrive in advance of the boat in each country to minimise delays.
The pit crew is being provided by global logistic’s firm GAC, who employ over
9,000 people at more than 300 offices around the globe.
“The key to the success of every record attempt is having
a great team, which is why we are using GAC to provide
all our logistics support. Every second we are in port
with the engines idle is a second we are not
taking off the record.”
gibraltar
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puerto rico
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Manzanillo
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honolulu
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guam
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singapore
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oman
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malta
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gibraltar

8. statistics
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JUST THE FACTS
Just like every performance sport, Formula 1, the America’s Cup or Tour de France
this record is all about the numbers. This is why Alan and his team have spent
months reviewing every inch of the boat, to save weight. They will use special
mattresses that save 270kg compared with standard ones and have removed
cooking equipment and the “heads” (otherwise know as the toilet). All the food on
board has been freeze dried, while water for drinking, food and washing will be
made on demand using a desalination machine.
Fuel stops have been cut to just seven, by enlarging the six fuel tanks, giving the
boat a range of nearly 4,000 nautical miles. Global logistics company GAC will
ensure that all the stores and bunkering will be ready at the quayside of each stop,
while the specially designed venting system will allow the boat to be refuelled and
ready to go in just a few hours.
All of this will help Team Britannia cut up to 10 days off of the current record of
60 days, 23 hour and 49 minutes.
“This is the pinnacle of endurance motorsport. It has
only been tried three time since records began. It is
23,000 miles of grit and determination.”
Length
80FT OF MARINE GRADE ALUMINIUM
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Material
12.5KM OF FRAMING & 15 MILES OF METAL
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range
AN AVERAGE OF 4,000 NAUTICAL MILES
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fuel
35,000 LITRES OF DIESEL
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engines
TWO CUSTOM FIAT POWER TRAIN C13 500, 6 CYLINDERS
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power
500BHP FROM EACH ENGINE / TOP SPEED CIRCA 50MPH
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Coverage
READERSHIP OF TB / 51.6 MILLION / APRIL-DECEMBER 2016
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9. clean fuel
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GETTING TECHNICAL
The vessel will be powered by a revolutionary fuel emulsion, a mixture of diesel,
water and emulsifier, that when burnt reduces harmful emissions. Initial testing
indicates that the new emulsion could cut particulate matter by 90 per cent and
NOX by 60 per cent.
The British company behind the emulsion, Clean Fuel Ltd along with its’ partners
have pioneered new technology that shows it is possible to deliver racing speeds
and performance while being green.
Clean Fuel produces a stable emulsion by mixing diesel, water and an emulsifying
agent together which burns more efficiently and as the water will be drawn from
the sea to improve the boat’s range.
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 by Clean Fuel
online in real time.
“Our goal is very simple, to win the world record and
to prove you can do it in an environmentally-friendly
way, which is why we are using Clean Fuel.”

10. Notes to editors
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Team Britannia is building a media plan that will maximise interview and story
opportunities. It will include a number of “milestone” events ahead of the record
attempt in early 2017. We will be formally announcing the crew, major sponsors
and partners, key stages in the building process such as the hull being turned,
the boat’s naming along with regular interview opportunities with the crew and
technical staff .
All of this will culminate in a weeklong nautically-themed festival in Gibraltar
ahead of the record attempt and a sumptuous Champagne Gala Reception on
board the five star Sunborn Hotel for those connected with the project, sponsors,
dignitaries and over 100 journalists and broadcasters.
During the record attempt our partners at CobWeb and Iridium will stream real
time data on the boats performance, speed, position and even crew welfare to our
race headquarters in Fareham. We will also hold a series of “live” interviews during
each of the seven stages.
Following the successful completion of the record attempt, the vessel will become
a regular fixture on the global boat show circuit. It will include the high profile
European shows such as: London, Southampton, Cowes Week, Dublin, Monaco,
Helsinki, Gothenburg, Grand Pavois (La Rochelle) Stockholm, Seatec (Italy)
Portugal, Spain, Volga and Genoa.
The vessel will also visit the large international shows including: CNR Eurasia
(Istanbul), China (Shanghai), Kuwait, Korea, Qatar, Sydney, Auckland, Miami,
Atlantic City, Montreal, Boston and IBEX (Tampa).
www.teambritannia.co.uk / Twitter @team_britannia / Facebook @teambritannia

11. Proud to be working with Wounded and Injured
Veterans supported by BLESMA