18-year-old Harry Besley has completed a never attempted before journey around Britain in his electric RIB, stopping at over 45 locations across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, travelling approximately 1,708 nm over the course of 31 days 20 hours and 46 mins. 

Passionate about the opportunity to both enthuse and educate, and to push for a greener future for marine transport, Harry and his ground support crew (travelling 2,981 miles in their 100% electric MAXUS T90EV pick up truck) set out with a clear mission. “

Right from the start our intention has been to help the marine industry move towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future, accelerating the change and encouraging industry investment. Demand in the eMarine sector needs to increase in order to give manufacturers confidence to move forward with new products, and to give harbours and ports a reason to invest in shore side charging,” said Project Manager Jaqui Besley.

Supported by a range of companies across the marine sector from micro-innovators to industry household names, training facilities and industry bodies, the Round Britain eRIB Challenge has certainly raised considerable awareness throughout. Skipper Harry Besley explains: “The support we have received from sponsors, harbour and port teams and members of the public at all our stop locations, as well as on our social media postings, has been so encouraging.  There has been a real sense of positive interest in what we have been trying to achieve. This was particularly welcome on some of our trickier legs where limitations on time, tides and charging proved difficult and often kept us up for much of the night.”

The record-breaking journey may now be complete; however, the mission carries on. Jaqui expands: “Our eRIB ‘Electra’ proved her worth, as we tested the capabilities of an electric boat further than ever before – changeable sea conditions affected by wind, tides, currents and headlands. I hope the propulsion system team will benefit from the experience of seeing their equipment perform over these longer distances and over consecutive charge and discharge cycles.”  

In reality though it’s unlikely that eBoating users in the near future will be making this type of long distance trip. However, with 3-phase power already part of the existing infrastructure in many ports and harbours, the cost and effort to set up a local provision is not as much of a barrier as people may think. “We ‘fast’ charged from existing AC infrastructure at 30 of our stop locations so people shouldn’t be put off.  With the right equipment shore side, fast charging is certainly a viable and immediate possibility.”

To continue to develop industry understanding of how the transition to electric propulsion can be supported, the project is involved in a collaboration between The Green Blue, the Royal Yachting Association’s environmental outreach programme, and South Hams District Council which is a survey-based study, aimed at recreational boat users gathering data around fuel use, attitudes towards electric propulsion and needs and behaviours around engine use. For more information about the RYA Electric Propulsion Survey, please see https://thegreenblue.org.uk/electric-propulsion-survey-have-your-say/

As Harry reflects on his A-Level results (received the day after arriving back at Lyme Regis) and seeks as many boating opportunities as possible during a well-earned gap year, the Round Britain eRIB team are now looking to sell their special boat, Electra. The silent electric motor is a game changer in safety and training on the water and interested parties should contact the Project Team or come and see them at stand F010 on 13th/14th and 20th/21st/22nd September at the Southampton International Boat Show.

As this is a not-for-profit Challenge, all the kit will now be sold online. Proceeds will be used to cover direct project costs and any surplus will be donated to marine charities. Please visit the eBay shop to bag a signed fender, branded T-shirts or some new and used sea faring equipment! https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/roundbri_0

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