High Seas Drama

A book detailing the tumultuous Earthrace mission to date has been published in time for Christmas. First Time Around by Scott Fratcher follows the state-of-the-art boat on its mission to promote biodiesel fuel by breaking the round the world speedboat record. Earthrace set off from its NZ base in March 2007. “85 days later the Earthrace attempt was abandoned in Spain with multiple 2-meter cracks in her main hull,” reads the book’s blurb. “In her wake were three major storms, an engine rebuild, 6 propeller changes, bankruptcy, and ultimately death on the high seas.” First Time Around is available as an e-book or hard copy from lulu.com.