The Challenge

The Challenge

An attempt to complete the fastest ever circumnavigation of the globe in a powerboat. A fully British designed, manufactured and campaigned superboat that is the fastest and most fuel-efficient powerboat to circumnavigate the globe for the much coveted UIM World Record.

The Route

To complete the record the boat must pass through the Suez and Panama Canals and start and finish in the same place. The world record authorities, UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) have approved Team Britannia’s proposed route, which will start in Gibraltar and call at Puerto Rico, Manzanillo, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and Malta to take on fuel.

The Current Record

The fastest powerboat circumnavigation World Record is 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes, currently held by Pete Bethune and Earthrace of New Zealand.

The Speed

It’s not simply a question about break neck speed although the boats is expected to have a top speed of un to 50 mph. This record attempt is all about averages. The current World Record was set at an average speed of 16.061 knots (24 mph) so the Team has to exceed this, including fuel stops.

The British team’s route is approximately 23,850 nautical miles or around 40,000 kilometers.  

The Skipper

The skipper is Portsmouth-based Dr Alan Priddy. He is one of the world’s leading offshore explorers and the current, or previous holder of 37 World Records.  Alan is working with a carefully chosen team of highly driven like-minded professionals, some of whom are also crew for the voyage to bring this record back to Britain.

The Crew

The crew includes, Dr Jan Falkowski (Medical Officer), Clive Tully (Onboard Reporter), Steve Mason (Chief Engineer), Andy Reid, Robert Mackenzie, Alistair Thompson, Daisy Coleman (a former P1 powerboat champion) and Richard Hunt (former Royal Navy). More information on the crew can be found here.