Earthrace, the powerboat powered with 100% bio-diesel and which is 100% carbon neutral arrived in Singapore late on Thursday afternoon from its last destination – the island of Palau in the Pacific Ocean. During this leg, the boat sustained damage to its propeller and shaft after it hit a wooden log that was floating in the ocean partly submerged.

Notwithstanding this damage which led to the boat travelling some 2,000 nautical miles on one engine, it is still some 3,000 nautical miles ahead of the circumnavigation world record established in 1998 by the cable and wireless boat.

The Earthrace has covered 17,050 nautical miles out of the 24,030 nautical mile journey and is averaging some 510 nautical miles per day.

The repairs work in Singapore are expected to take a couple of days or so seeing that the damaged parts require extensive engineering works.

The Earthrace will pass very close to Malta in the final leg of the challenge from Port Said in Egypt to Valencia in Spain.

Pippo Psaila, commercial director of edible oil, the largest producers of bio-diesel in Malta, commented that “if the boat does not encounter any serious mishaps in what is left of its challenge to break the world record, this will be a very strong message to all diesel consumers, that bio-diesel is a reliable fuel even at 100% inclusion. It performs even with the highest technological engines and in extreme conditions, seeing that Earthrace has travelled the world’s most challenging seas. Using this kind of alternative fuel is part of the solution to global warming.”

To follow the final stage of the world record-breaking challenge, readers are invited to visit the official site (www.earthrace.net) where one can follow through gps tracking the boat’s journey and progress. One can also get in contact with the crew on board led by captain and promoter Pete Bethune.