The good oil's global challenge

Smiles all around from record challenger Pete Bethune as the main hull of Earthrace is lifted high by crane at the Calibre Boats yard at Whenuapai.

Whichever party wins the election tonight can be sure of one thing: a swift doorknock is on the way from Aucklander Pete Bethune.

He's the man who has punted his life savings on a project to promote New Zealand design technology and expertise in a round-the-world marine adventure.

Labour spurned his first approaches, but as fuel prices rise the ground rules have changed in his favour. A Labour loss tonight will give National the chance to put its stamp on a project that will have a huge pay-off for this country.

In November Bethune will launch Earthrace, a 20m wave-piercer that he plans to power around the world in 65 days fuelled by biodiesel - made from vegetable oil or waste animal fat.

Earthrace was designed by Auckland naval architect Craig Loomes, who has a proven background in leading-edge wave-piercer design. The technology was first developed for fast ferries and has more recently applied to military and fast offshore powerboat design.

The craft is being built by Craig Ross and his team at Calibre Boats in Whenuapai and is well on the way to completion. The main hull was turned over on Monday and the two appendages are complete and ready to be joined to the hull. Construction is all composite, with High Modulus supplying the carbon fibre and kevlar and the resins from Adhesive Technologies.

"Support for the project, both here and internationally, has been fantastic," says Bethune. "Calibre Boats are building the boat at mate's rates and having had the materials supplied has been a huge help."

The electronics and instrumentation is from Navman and the Brunswick Corporation, the American marine giant that is now the Kiwi company's new parent, is supplying the engines. All up this package alone is worth around $300,000.

To achieve his goal, Bethune has to beat the world powerboat record of 75 days set by the British boat Cable & Wireless, in 1998. Earthrace will travel closer to the equator than Cable & Wireless, which had to take a longer route sticking closer to the land for refuelling stops.

The race rules state that challengers can choose any route they like as long as they pass through the Suez and Panama canals and refuel only in port, not at sea. Bethune believes a voyage of 60 days is possible because the wave-piercer design means what it says, the hull goes through the water rather than over the top. That gives a smoother ride, cutting down on stress on the boat as well as the crew.

He is sure Earthrace can set a new record by averaging only 14 knots (26m/h), which will mean speeding day and night through some of the world's biggest waves for 26,000 nautical miles (48,000km) with only 12 four-hour refuelling stops.

"I'm not worried about the actual race," Bethune says. "Sure there is always the chance of hitting a container or another lurking object, but we will have the best electronics and an experienced crew. Our biggest problem was getting to the start line in March 2006 and we are now sure of making that deadline. We will also do a showing the flag circumnavigation of New Zealand over the early summer."

The challenge almost came unstuck in August when the money ran out. Bethune and wife Sharyn cashed up their superannuation, a forestry block that yielded $150,000. Not many wives would be so supportive, Bethune admits. "But we were so far down the track it had to be done or we would have been letting a lot of people down. I'm just so glad she is as committed to the project as I am."

Next milestone is launch day in early November, then it's the Christmas cruise to show Earthrace to New Zealand. The circumnavigation will follow, which will also serve as a shakedown cruise.

Bethune has not yet firmed up the three others who will join him on the record attempt and hopes to recruit someone from the US or Britain to add to the international flavour of the challenge. A lot of his sponsorship is from offshore and a couple of top names will help with media exposure.

"By the time we cross the start line who knows where the diesel price will be?" he says.

"We are using proven technology and a renewable resource to show the world there is an alternative to fossil fuels. Surely that's got to be good for New Zealand."

With just $2 million needed to complete the Earthrace challenge and allow a suitable beating of promotional drums for New Zealand, it is to be hoped the political door Bethune knocks yields a positive response.