A British seaman is hoping to break a New Zealander's long-standing world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat shaped like a torpedo.
Alan Priddy, 61, hopes his "floating fuel tank" can beat the previous record of 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes held by Pete Bethune in his New Zealand-built 24-metre Earthrace trimaran.
The world record attempt of almost 24,000 nautical miles is expected to start on November 1 next year.
It will stop at 10 countries around the world for refuelling including Gibraltar, Puerto Rico, Panama, Acapulco, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, and Oman.
To adhere to world record rules, the boat must pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, and start and finish in the same place.
Portsmouth-based Priddy, who has amassed 37 boating world records, believes he is the only person who has separately motor boated and sailed around the world.
"From this unique experience I now know what type of craft we need to build, not only to smash the existing powerboat circumnavigation world record, but to set a benchmark that will be nearly impossible to beat," he said.
"Many people have raced around the world, but you can count on the fingers of one hand the numbers that have successfully attempted to motor round in record time."
Priddy has already secured almost NZ$6 million to build his dream boat - a 24m long aluminium powerboat designed to pierce waves at an estimated average speed of 22.5 knots.
It will carry 35 tons of eco-fuel and a crew of seven.
Conservationist Bethune knocked more than two weeks off the previous world record when his trimaran Earthrace went around the world in just under 61 days in 2008.
The boat was then renamed Ady Gill and captained by Bethune to participate in anti-whaling activities as part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
In 2010, it sank after a collision with a Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2 in the Southern Ocean.
A month later, Bethune boarded the Shonan Maru 2 to try and conduct a citizen's arrest on her captain, alleging attempted murder and to present a claim for $3 million for the loss of his vessel.
He was detained, taken to Japan, arrested, and indicted on charges of trespassing, assault, illegal possession of a knife, destruction of property and obstruction of business.
He received a five-year suspended sentence and was deported back to New Zealand.