Eco-boat smashes round-the-world speed record

A speedboat powered solely by biofuel has broken the world record for circumnavigating the globe.

Earthrace, the world’s fastest ecoboat, smashed the previous record set in 1998 by almost two weeks.

The 24-meter long powerboat crossed the finishing line in Sagunto, Spain, on Friday, with a time of 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes.

Skipper Pete Bethune, from New Zealand, sold his home to build the boat.

He decided to make the round-the-world record attempt to promote the use of biofuels.

It was the second attempt by Bethune to break the world record.

His first attempt last year was beset by problems and was eventually cancelled because of heavy storms in the Mediterranean.

The second attempt was not without difficulties.

Bethune and his team braved monsoon conditions in the Indian Ocean, and his record attempt was put in jeopardy by a backlog of traffic waiting to pass through the Panama Canal.

Fortunately Earthrace was granted special permission to bypass the queue.

Earthrace will be on show at the British Motor Show later this month.