GAC UK extends support for Team Britannia round-the-world record attempt

Grangemouth, United Kingdom – As part of preparations for Team Britannia’s attempt to smash the round-the-world sea voyage record, GAC UK has been appointed to support the 80ft powerboat and its 12-strong crew with their environmental programme and land-based activities. This is an extension to the bunkering and storage services deal originally signed in 2016.

GAC now takes on everything from clearing immigration along the route to managing the water samples and other environmental data we will collect on the 23,000NM voyage.

The new agreement was sealed at GAC’s UK marine leisure logistics and superyacht services hub in Southampton by team principal and ocean racing legend Alan Priddy and Fergus Poole, GAC’s Superyacht Services Manager.

“We are under no illusions that this world record attempt is as much won on the land as it is the sea,” says Poole. “We’ve been supporting Team Britannia for well over a year now, but as we’ve got closer to the launch, it has become increasingly apparent that our expertise, global network and resources could be beneficial in areas beyond fuel, storage and smooth transits through the Panama and Suez Canals. Now we’ll also be ensuring that the boat is provisioned quickly, all crew are in the right place at the right time, all the paperwork is complete and the project’s land-based activities are delivered on time, on budget.”

As the official logistics provider to the Volvo Ocean Race and a keen supporter of UN Environment’s #cleanseas initiative, GAC will also support Team Britannia’s environmental programme to raise awareness of the damage being caused to the world’s oceans by plastics. Team Britannia is planning a programme of activities at each stop along its route to engage with and inform people about the damage being caused to the marine environment by pollution which could see more plastic in the world’s seas than fish if urgent steps are not taken.

Construction of the Team Britannia RIB boat is well underway and it is due to be launched in late 2017 or early 2018 for sea trials. It will set off on its world record attempt from Gibraltar’s Europa Point in October after participating in a fortnight-long nautically themed festival coinciding with Trafalgar Day celebrations.