Team Britannia is recruiting veterans for round the world record attempt.
Team Britannia is looking for current and former servicemen and women, who are wounded, injured or sick (WIS) to join the crew of their round the world powerboat record attempt later this year.
The servicemen and women will join ocean-racing legend Alan Priddy, the boat’s skipper, and his crew in a revolutionary semi-wave slicing eco boat. Team Britannia hopes to set a new world record, for the fastest circumnavigation in a powerboat, currently held by the New Zealander Pete Bethune at 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes.
The Team is looking for up to five injured and wounded servicemen/women (WIS) to join them on each of the seven legs of the 23,000 mile voyage.
The WIS crew will be put through a series of rigorous tests to ensure that they are able to cope with the physical and mental challenges of the record attempt, with the first training week starting later this month and the second in late August.
The extensive selection process has been developed by specialist training company Team Endeavour Racing (TER) and will be overseen by former army Captain Stuart Croxford, the company’s founder.
Mr Croxford commented: “We will being putting those applicants selected through a training programme that aims to recreate the mentally and physically tough conditions that those on the boat will experience. We will also be training those selected essential skills, such as sea survival and power boating level two. All of these skill are transferable and hopefully will help with those seeking work”
The training and selection of the WIS crew is being supported by the Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund and British Limbless Ex-Serviceman’s Association (BLESMA).
In addition to the onboard crew, Alan and his team are looking for people to join their Formula One style pit crew. The shore-based team will fly ahead of the boat starting in Gibraltar, going to Puerto Rico, Acapulco, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman, Malta and back to Gibraltar.
The “pit crew” will be responsible for refueling and re-provisioning the boat as quickly as possible.
Alan Priddy commented: “One of the reasons why this record is one of the toughest in the world is the clock doesn’t stop when the boat does. So minimising the time spent idle in port can mean the difference between breaking the world record and not.
“This means we have to get 35,000 litres of diesel bunkered and other stores onboard as quickly and as safely possible. Every minute saved is a minute we can take off the record.”
The team is also keen to hear from veterans who are interested in helping on the build and kit out of the boat, which is being constructed on Hayling Island in Hampshire.
Mr Priddy continued: “For those who can’t manage the time to join us on the record attempt we still have places for those with skills we can utilise during the boat build from logistics to electricians – they can all play a part in our record attempt.”
The boat’s 38 aluminium frames, around 12.5 km of metal are already fixed in place in a special upside down jig. Next month, the six 5833 litre fuel tanks will be slid into place. Once these are secured, work will start on covering the boat’s skeleton with its protective 8 mm aluminium skin. At the same time a separate team will start assembling the distinctive wheelhouse.
In total, the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company will assemble and weld together more than 300 pieces of metal.
When both sections are completed, the hull will be turned over and the wheelhouse will be craned into position and the two part-welded together, ready for the kit out including the installation of a pollution busting fuel system.
He concluded: “It is sad fact that there are 83,000 former servicemen and women who are still suffering from physical or mental injuries from modern wars in the UK. I want to tap into this brave group of people and utilise their skills and can-do attitude, whether during the build, as part of the pit crew, or on board.”
Those wishing to join the project should write to Stuart Croxford, Team Britannia, C/O MIP, 83 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0HW.
For more information, go to teambritannia.co.uk
