With support from the latest round of Sponsors, the Round Britain eRIB challenge has announced a departure date of 13 July, when 18-year-old skipper Harry Besley from Taunton, Somerset will start his attempt to drive an electric boat around Great Britain. Setting off from Lyme Regis in Dorset the team can be followed on their website via the Live Tracker.
This environmental challenge stems from the absence of alternatives to fossil fuel propulsion in the small leisure powerboat sector. The electric RIB, named ‘Electra’, will be used to showcase the capabilities of electric propulsion in UK coastal waters. To see the vessel, join the team at one of the STOP Locations listed on the website.
Electra is a Galaxy RIB and has a Ukrainian built aluminium hull and Norwegian propulsion system from EVOY. Put together in the Netherlands, Electra carries 126kWh batteries and a 150 peak horse power equivalent motor.
The project has announced the following Sponsors:
Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) is the world’s leading shipping law practice and has been advising the industry for more than 140 years. The firm has more than 200 specialist shipping lawyers and Master Mariners throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, supporting clients across the sector on the full range of dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional matters.
Alex Kemp, Partner at HFW, said: “This sponsorship is in a sector that is really important to HFW and we’re dlghted to be supporting Harry and the Round Britain eRIB team.”
Garmin – Whether it’s on a powerboat or a sailing vessel, on a commercial workboat or a luxury yacht, on saltwater or fresh — no matter how or where you take to the water, you can trust Garmin marine technology to give you an unsurpassed level of confidence at the helm.
“It was great to meet Harry and the team at Seawork this year and we were delighted to be able to support by supplying of one of our GARMIN screens, AIS Transceiver as well as other items.” said Zoe Dupuy, Auto & Marine Marketing Manager from Garmin (Europe)
Essential Supplies have been around for over 25 years and have steadily grown in to one of the top companies in the UK for the supply and manufacture of Power, Lighting, Audio and Rigging products to the Temporary Events Market. Essential Supplies are providing all the charging cabling and accessories to support the Challenge with a distribution box for supply protection.
Simon James, Owner at Essential Supplies said, “I myself did a circumnavigation in a RIB a few years ago and I know some of the challenges Harry is going to face….good luck to Harry and the team!
Further information
Follow Harry as he takes on the eRib Round Britain Challenge this summer.
