[PCW] Earthrace Back Under Way After Repairs

[Earthrace]

Press Release

Earthrace Back Under Way After Repairs

San Diego, USA -April 9, 2007--Earthrace has now left San Diego and 
is continuing on her round-the-world speed record attempt.  The 
unique wavepiercing vessel was involved in a collision off the coast 
of Guatemala with an unlit fishing skiff, resulting in considerable 
damage that has been mostly repaired in San Diego.  She is now 800 
nautical miles off the coast of California en-route to Hawaii, the 
next refueling stop on her global circumnavigation.

According to Earthrace Captain Pete Bethune, the repairs were much 
more extensive than initially anticipated.  The gearbox and engine 
mounts were replaced first, however there remained a series of 
vibrations from various sources.  The engine was realigned, the 
propeller shaft straightened, and the Hytorq propeller rebalanced. 
 Bethune says "the hardest part was getting the driveshaft in and out 
of Earthrace while she remained in the water.  It was an extremely 
challenging exercise that thankfully went well".  The 3-inch diameter 
shaft is 15ft long and weighs close to 400 pounds, so handling it 
requires a team of people.

Earthrace Engineer Scott Fratcher says, "there is now a single 
vibration left that we believe to be the Propflex coupling, which 
joins the gearbox to the propeller shaft".  This was found to be 
off-centre by 10/1000 of an inch. The plan is to swap this for a new 
coupling as soon as Earthrace reaches Maalaia, in Hawaii.

Meanwhile Earthrace continues her voyage across the Pacific with the 
vibration ever present, but the crew believes it will be fine at 
least until Hawaii.  Earthrace is expected to reach Maalaia late on 
Thursday night this week, local time.

Press release ends.