MY Ady Gil

History
Name
  • Earthrace (2006–2009)
  • Ady Gil (2009–2010)
Port of registryAuckland,  New Zealand
BuilderCalibre Boats
Laid downJanuary 2005
Launched22 February 2006
FateSank on 7 January 2010 at 17:20 UTC after collision with MV Shōnan Maru 2 at 64°01′50″S 143°05′23″E / 64.03056°S 143.08972°E / -64.03056; 143.08972
General characteristics
TypeTrimaran
Displacement13 ton
Length78 ft (24 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Draught4 ft (1.2 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 400 kW (540 hp) Cummins Mercruiser
  • Gearboxes: ZF 305A (single speed)
SpeedClaimed Top Speed: 32 knots (59.3 km/h)[1]
Range12,000 nautical miles (22,224 km) from 12,000 litres (2,640 imp gal) of fuel capacity
Complement4–8

MY Ady Gil (formerly Earthrace) was a 78-foot (24 m), wave-piercing trimaran originally created as part of a project to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat. Powered by biodiesel fuel, the vessel was also capable of running on regular diesel fuel.[2][3][4] It used other eco-friendly materials such as vegetable oil lubricants, hemp composites, and non-toxic anti-fouling, and had features such as bilge-water filters.[2]

The first attempt at the global circumnavigation record in 2007 was ill-fated. The boat encountered mechanical problems on several occasions and collided with a Guatemalan fishing boat, killing one of the other boat's crew. While the crew of the Earthrace was later absolved of any responsibility, the delay forced the restart of the record attempt, while more mechanical issues later aborted it. In 2008, the second journey proved successful—though again, numerous technical problems had to be overcome before the record was achieved, with the vessel finally making the return to Sagunto, Spain after just under 61 days[5] on 27 June 2008.

In late 2009, it was announced that the boat, now repainted black and named Ady Gil, would be participating in anti-whaling operations under the lead of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. During operations in the Southern Ocean, the vessel and the Japanese whaling support vessel MV Shōnan Maru 2 collided on 6 January 2010, resulting in loss of the Ady Gil's bow and injuring one crew member.[6][7][8] Each side blamed the other for causing the collision, and government agencies began an investigation into the incident.[9] The crew of the Ady Gil were removed from the damaged vessel[10][11] and the salvage operation was abandoned, with the vessel sinking the next day.[12]

  1. ^ "Investigation report Ady Gil and Shonan Maru No. 2" (PDF). MaritimeNZ.govt.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b Noa Rotkop (10 September 2008). "Earthrace: Setting a new world record". The Future of Things. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  3. ^ Seiff, Abby (2006). "Fast Fueled". Popular Science. 269 (6). Bonnier Group: 18.
  4. ^ "Union internationale motonautique". Archived from the original on 14 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Whale Wars: Boat Sinking After Antarctic Clash". Fox News. News Corporation. Associated Press. 6 January 2010. Archived from the original on 9 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  6. ^ Sullivan, Rohan (6 January 2010). "Boat sinking after whaling clash in Antarctica". Miami Herald. Miami Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 6 January 2010. [dead link]
  7. ^ Burgess, Kelly (6 January 2010). "Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil has bow sheared off after being struck by Japanese whaling ship". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference RESTRAINT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference NOTSUNK was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference STILLABANDONED was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ ABC News, 8 January 2010, Ady Gil sinks after whaling skirmish