Spirit of Cardiff -- the round the world boat

The Offshore Expeditions team have produced a custom-built rigid inflatable boat (RIB) specifically designed for the extreme endurance that they will require to take the round the world record.

        Spirit is one of the largest RIBs in the world, with an overall length of 10 metres (33 feet). This large size has meant that it is possible to build a fully enclosed cabin to provide the team with shelter from the elements on their voyage. Despite being partly inflatable, this is no rubber dinghy!

        The hull is a Ribtec, designed by Alastair Cameron and moulded by Northshore Composites. The inflatable tubes have been made and fitted by Henshaw Inflatables. All of the fitting out, including designing and building the cabin, has been carried out in-house by Offshore Expeditions.

        The boat is powered by a single Yamaha turbo-diesel engine producing 240 horse power. This is quite a modest engine for a boat this size, but has been chosen for its reliability and efficiency. With a top speed of over 30 knots, Spirit cruises at around 20 knots, with a range of up to 3600 miles -- enough to travel from Yokohama to Honolulu!

        A recent addition is a 35 hp diesel outboard as a back up. It won't push Spirit very fast, but it will be enough to keep going in the unlikely event of a serious mechanical failure.