This is Earthrace, a state-of-the-art speedcraft that runs on human fat, in addi tion to other biodiesel fuels.

The crew of this vessel is currently racing to br eak the world speed record for circumnavigating the globe. According to the Guardian, Earthrace is a 24 meter powerboat that runs on 100% r enewable biodiesel fuels and has a net zero carbon footprint. Furthermore, Earth race is the first boat in the world to use hemp composite in the construction of the ship body. Lubricants for the ship are made from vegetable oils, bedding fo ams are made from canola oils, and the crew even eats organic/local foods and we ars hemp and bamboo clothing.

Here s the 70 ft. Mary Gordon an electric-powered boat taking a crowd for a tour in 19 02. Note how Earthrace appears to be a direct descendant of Ms Gordon :).

Pete Bethune, the New Zealand skipper of Earthrace, believes the boat can help a dvance biodiesel as a genuinely viable alternative to petroleum diesel. Bethune and his family are more than a little invested in promoting fuel alternatives-th ey sold their home and belongings to fund the boat. Demonstrating further commit ment to the cause, Bethune underwent liposuction and donated enough of his perso nal body fat to produce 100ml of biofuel.

Earthrace is now on pace to break the world speed record. The current record hol der is British boat Cable and Wireless Adventurer, which circumnavigated the glo be in 75 days a decade ago. The race is going well after a little trouble in parad ise, the crew repaired a broken engine and powered into Palau this week, 2400 mi les ahead of schedule. Check here to see where Earthrace is right now.

What`s in the future for Earthrace s technology? Well, the greenest part of Earthrac e s design isn t its two Cummins Mercruiser QSC 540 engines-it s the unique and incred ibly efficient hull. Unlike other boats that ride on top of waves, Earthrace pierces through them wit h its trimaran hull. The design allows this boat to go far faster in rough seas than conventional vessels. The piercing is controlled by pumping up to 2.5 tons of water into a special ballast tank in the bow. The faster the boat is travelli ng, the more it pierces. The limiting speed factor is the crew s ability to handle the ride, rather than the capacity of the boat. In rough seas, this boat is fie rce. If that doesn t sound like it s for you, consider a more relaxed alternative su ch as a solar powered boat.