Jersey sailor breaks record on zero emission boat

Tuesday 23 May 2017

Jersey sailor Phil Sharp achieved a double feat in the Normandy Channel Race: he broke the race record by completing the 1,000 miles in 4 days, 11 hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds - and did so at the helm of a zero-emission boat, proving that renewable energies do not hinder performances.

The 36-year-old skipper, and his former opponent turned teammate Pablo Santurde, won their second race in the Class 40 Championship, crossing the finish line in Hermanville over two hours ahead of the runner-up.

After a frustrating result in the race last year - Phil Sharp came second, just two-and-a-half minutes behind the winner Pablo Santurde - the Jersey sailor went one better this year, recording the fastest time ever record for the passage, in spite of difficult weather conditions.

He explained: "It is always very windy at this of year. When you head out, you always get a bit of a hammering and kicking. Those race boats, they are very uncomfortable and don't have any luxuries, there is no proper galley or bed, or even a place to sit so you find yourself sprawled over sail bags." 

WIN! = They've done it! 4 days 11 hours 15 minutes and 50 seconds, and some 30nm ahead of 2nd place! Bravo team pic.twitter.com/KyEwiupvQv

— Phil Sharp Racing (@PhilSharpRacing) May 19, 2017

Imerys is entirely reliant on renewable energies, mainly solar and hydrogen energy, and was it testing the latest technology during the Normandy race. 

Phil Sharp told Express: "We want to showcase renewable technologies to show that they actually give you an advantage because they give you a more reliable energy when you are offshore and make you lighter because you don't have to carry diesel. Renewable energies are a benefit, not a compromise, and they can aid performances rather than hinder them. It's an endless source of power and a very secure supply when you are doing longer races."

The skipper completed its first race across the Atlantic on solar energy only ten years ago, an experience he describes as, "...an exhilarating step forward."

He said: "It is a great satisfaction to be able to harness natural energy because of the environmental benefits. I get a very nice content feeling having energy there for me to capture when I need it and it's clean, it trickles in, it doesn't make any noise and there is no pollution. When there is energy all around you all the time, you might as well be using it. Whats the point in being reliant on an energy source that you have to get from the land when you are spending most of the time in an ocean?" 

A win on zero emissions and a new record holder Imerys put pedal to medal in thrilling game changing https://t.co/SjiLM0yJNy pic.twitter.com/ZgzV81eiE4

— Phil Sharp Racing (@PhilSharpRacing) May 19, 2017

Since his first race, Mr Sharp has been developing his zero-emissions energy system as part of the Energy Challenge, whose main aim is to develop the first zero fossil fuel vessel to go around the globe without any stopover.

This year, as the team is building up for a longer race later this year - the Transat Jaques Vabre between France and Brazil - they have been focusing on the capture of the renewable energy.

"We have had a lot of people enquiring where we get the technology from, a lot of them have problems with diesel technology which is ancient and inherently unreliable because of the maintenance. Renewable energies are simply electrical or chemical, it just works and it just gets on with it. It is high time the marine industry changes, the automotive industry is changing quickly, but they are lagging behind. Our intent is to re-accelate that transition particularly in the smaller boating market so that they adopt cleaner technologies and have the ability to integrate the capture of renewable energy."

But the skipper is also hoping to see some changes at home, in Jersey, which he sees as a potential showcase for bigger communities. He explained: "There are a lot of things that could be improved on the Island. I see Jersey as a potential bed test for introducing a completely green transport network, given the size and the scale of the Island. We could have electric car share systems and a lot more could be pedestrianised. A lot more fuel needs to be taxed as I think people are getting away very lightly with it at the moment and there are too many cars."

"It would be great to see some investment in making us more self sufficient and using some of the tidal energy and some of the immense amount of energy that passes by our coastline everyday. Tidal is so reliable, you can predict what's happening 100 years ahead, it's not like the wind. It's always going to be challenging because of logistics but it's working. Jersey has some of the strongest tides, it's a no brainer to be capitalising on it rather than nuclear energy which is not  renewable and something we don't have control over."

Last evening here in #Caen after #NCR2017 before heading back to #JerseyCI pic.twitter.com/0G8Ai9hLdE

— Phil Sharp Racing (@PhilSharpRacing) May 20, 2017

While he understands that the investment might be difficult to make for governments and businesses alike, the skipper hopes that his good results, which he hopes to repeat during the next race to Les Açores, will convince more of the benefits of renewable energies. He says: "At some stage, the nature resources are going to run out and it's a cost that will escalate. From a business perspective, it's important to take lengths to invest early in sustainable technologies, that is what gives you the advantage on the long run."