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Around the world yacht racing enthusiasts just say no to fossil fuels?

[Apr. 21]

You don’t have to be a full time green celebrity to realize that going green makes perfect sense. Called “the world’s ultimate solo challenge,” wind power fuels an eight month solo yacht race around the world that has been held every four years since 1982. The race began in La Rochelle, France in October, and is expected to conclude after the fifth and final leg of the race from Charleston, SC, back to La Rochelle.

“I’m not an environmentalist, or I don’t thump it too hard, but I am there,” said Derek Hatfield of Nova Scotia, who has placed second in the latest leg of the race, according to Reuters. “Things have changed a lot more than we think. I hope it’s not too late. I hope that we can make a difference.”

And that’s the perfect attitude to take. We may not all be green celebrities able to afford green technologies to help us get away from fossil fuels completely, but demonstrating that it can be done, over the long haul, especially for such a grueling race, is promising.

These green skippers are sailing what are called “Eco 60s”, which are old Open 60 yachts outfitted with solar panels, wind generators, and hydrogenerators that power the autopilots, GPS, satellite phones, and laptops that the skippers use while on the seas.

“The goal, of course, is not to use any fossil fuel at all,” said Derek.