A space age 78 foot trimaran, the round the world speed powerboat record holder Earthrace, latterly a New Zealand protest ship is said to have been severely damaged by a Japanese vessel as clashes over Japan’s whaling activities in Antarctic waters continue to escalate.
The Sea Sherperd anti-whaling group’s boat, Ady Gil, formerly known as Earthrace, has been almost three metres cut from its carbon fibre bow by a Japanese security vessel Shonan Maru near Commonwealth Bay earlier today, Wednesday and the New Zealand-registered vessel is in danger of sinking …Â Details & Picture
www.stokednews.com
In 2008 world-renowned adventurer Richard Branson tried to break the current transatlantic monohull sailing record of 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes, 39 seconds on his 100’ Super-Maxi yacht Virgin Money, but had to abandon his attempt when the boat started to break apart in the middle of the ocean.
So, is it possible to beat what Branson calls ‘one of the greatest records of all’? Can a sailboat reach speeds in excess of 50 knots in stormy open-ocean conditions? Is it possible to cover 1,000 miles in a single day under wind power alone? Can the performance gap between offshore monohulls and multihulls be bridged?   … Details & Pictures
www.stokednews.com
[ad#cor1]
Jake Stachovak is now over 500 miles along on his quest to kayak 5,000 miles around the eastern half of the United States. But, the trip has not been without difficulties – both of the ugly side of humanity and nature itself.
Stachovak, 34, is going down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, plans to go east across the Gulf of Mexico, paddle around the Florida peninsula, then up the east coast to New York City where he will paddle canals to Lake Ontario, then follow the Great Lakes to Green Bay and return to his starting point …Â Details
www.stokednews.com
Check out these great powerboat designs and pictures for thenow and the  future: details
www.stokednews.com