ON THE WATER
Environment
Electric performance all round
With support from all the home countries, the eRIB circumnavigation challenge was a success
T
he inspiring advice of ‘Be more adventurous in life’ was given by Harry Besley after he become the Ѓ˥˦˧ ˣ˘˥˦ ˧ ˖˜˥˖˨ˠ˔˩˜˚˔˧˘
Great Britain as skipper of an electric boat. Featured in the spring 2023 issue of RYA Magazine, the Round Britain eRIB Challenge took place this year when 18-year-old Harry and his cousin Henry left The Cobb at Lyme Regis on 13 July and returned on 14 August. Electra looks and drives like a traditional
˅ʼʵ ˕˨˧ ˜˦ ˤ˨˜˘˧ ˔ ˛˨˚˘ ˕˘˘Ѓ˧ ˙˥ ˣ˘˔˖˘˙˨ recreational boating, but more importantly for giving teaching or safety instruction. There’s no doubt that the technology is
there. Charging on the circumnavigation was ˔˔˦ ˚˜˚ ˧ ˕˘ ˗˜˙Ѓ˖˨˧ ˕˨˧ ʻ˔˥˥ ˔˦ able to use existing sockets at over 30 of the 48 stops. He wasn’t concerned about running out of power, but there were ‘safe havens’ planned where possible – harbours where either the team could run a petrol generator to top-up the charge or use a slipway to take the boat to a fast-car charger. Harry had to visit a safe haven in
Burghead due to unexpected tidal currents in the Moray Firth. They’re not shown on charts as they’re a result of change in the
sea bed from weather systems; it meant the eRIB used more power than expected. Enjoying hospitality and support around
Great Britain, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, clubs and members of the RYA should be thanked for following, supporting and hosting the team. The Green Blue also supported the challenge to raise awareness of eboating among the boating community; Harry promoted their Electric Propulsion Survey at his stops. The results will help The Green Blue understand eboating attitudes. Harry thoroughly enjoyed his time with Electra: ‘I feel honoured to have spent so much time on an electric boat; it was special being so close to wildlife and knowing we weren’t having the negative impact of fossil-fuelled boats.’
Electra tech
Harry skippered a 6.5m Galaxy RIB from Gala, converted for electrical propulsion with two 63kWh lithium-ion batteries powering a Norwegian Evoy 150hp electric outboard. Charging is via an onboard AC charger and a fast DC charger. With a 22kW onboard charger the battery system could fully charge in Ѓ˩˘ ˧ ˦˜ ˛˨˥˦ ˛˘ ˛˞˘˗ ˨ˣ ˧ ˔ ʦʥʴ ʧʤʨ¯ ˦˨ˣˣʡ
rya.org.uk WINTER 2024 55
Top left Electra was a pleasure to drive. Top right Harry and his mum, Jaqui, with their trophies to
commemorate ‘Helping the Environment’ by highlighting zero-emission propulsion. The trophies were kindly donated by a private sponsor. Above Harry and Henry, ready to depart Plymouth for Falmouth.
Photos: Ollie Bell, Melanie Dawes, Kerry Cietak
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