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Green Machine

By Madison Chapman/Tampa

For the past few months, folks in ports throughout the U.S. have caught a glimpse of a boat that looks as if it belongs on the set of Star Wars. The sleek, silver, 78-foot boat is painted with tattoo designs reflecting the crew’s New Zealand heritage. The ship’s name is Earthrace. On March 6, its crew will attempt to break a world record by circling the globe in a powerboat in less than 65 days. Along the way, they hope to help save the planet.

Captain Pete Bethune says Earthrace is “the coolest-looking boat in the world.” But what makes the boat even more special is the fuel that powers it. Earthrace runs on 100% biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel is an alternative to gasoline. It uses fat from animals and plants, including soybeans. Biofuel is better for the environment than regular gas because it causes less air pollution. Also, fossil fuels, such as the petroleum used to make gasoline, are limited resources. While working in New Zealand’s oil industry, Bethune became concerned about the world’s fossil fuel resources.

So far, Earthrace has visited New Zealand and North America. “It is about connecting with people,” Bethune told TFK.

Bethune is Earthrace’s developer and its skipper. The boat’s design was inspired by a video he saw about wave-piercing hull designs. The boat cuts through the water rather than over the waves.

Bethune invites kids to visit earthrace.net to find out more about the race. What does he want the world to know about biofuels? “These fuels are becoming available and will work fine in cars, trucks and buses,” he says. “It’s time people started using them.”

Next: Feeling the Heat