You may have read last year about an innovatively designed, biodiesel-powered speedboat called Earthrace that was going to attempt to set an around-the-world nautical speed record of 65 days. Skipper Pete Bethune’s intent was to raise awareness of the environmental benefits—and raw power—of biodiesel fuel. In fact, one liter of fuel used for the voyage was produced from liposuctioned fat from his buttocks! 

The effort came to a sudden halt last month when, only nine days into the attempt, Earthrace crashed into a fishing boat off Guatemala, killing one fisherman and seriously injuring a second (the third member of the boat’s crew suffered only minor injuries). Bethune and his crew did everything they could to rescue the fishermen and treat their injuries while the boat limped back to shore, likely saving the lives of the two injured sailors they were able to recover. The mission, of course, was scrubbed pending the resulting investigation. Fortunately for the captain and his crew, the presiding judge ruled the incident an accident and Earthrace was free to leave after having been delayed ten days.   

For a riveting account of the accident and what’s happened since, see Bethune’s Captain’s blog .