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'Fossil-free' Jersey sailor Phil Sharp has relaunched his bid to become the first person to complete the Vendée Globe round-the-world race in a yacht running exclusively on clean energy.
Viewed by many as the toughest sporting challenge in the world, the Vendée Globe is a solo round-the-world yacht race beginning and ending in Les Sables-d'Olonne in the Vendée region of France.
It takes yachters 24,000 nautical miles from Les Sables d’Olonne, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope, then clockwise around Antarctica, past Cape Horn and back again. It runs from November to February and competitors can receive no outside assistance whatsoever.
Pictured: The Vendée Globe route.
Now, Jersey sailor Phil Sharp is hoping to be the first sailor to complete this gruelling race in a completely zero-carbon vessel.
Phil, who hold three world sailing records, has undertaken similar challenges before.
In 2018, he took on the Route du Rhum, a solo trans-atlantic race, using entirely clean energy. In 2017, he completed the Normandy Channel Race in the fastest recorded time at the helm of a zero-emission boat.
His new and improved vessel, the 60ft long IMOCA 60, is currently under construction by high-performance boat experts Black Pepper Yachts and will be fitted with Phil's groundbreaking invention, the Genevos Hydrogen Power Module.
Pictured: In 2024, Phil Sharp will be taking on the Vendée Globe in a vessel run entirely on clean energy.
Phil, a qualified mechanical engineer, helped to design the Genevos Hydrogen Power Module as part of his clean technology project, 'OceansLab'.
The module is a 100% zero-emission propulsion pack, running entirely on hydrogen and releasing only water and heat as by-products.
By powering his vessel using completely clean energy, Phil aims to demonstrate to the maritime industry that there is a viable alternative to fossil fuels, and to encourage a move towards clean energy.
Pictured: Phil Sharp with the Genevos Hydrogen Power Module.
Phil Sharp told JEP Sport earlier this week: "Replacing fossil fuel power with renewable energy solutions is an important step forward, not only for our sport, but the entire maritime sector. Ultimately, I am sailing to win races, while also proving that by using the latest clean technologies, this can be done with zero emissions."
He added: "In order to meet climate change targets we need to start developing zero emission vessels, today.
"This campaign will be an important benchmark in demonstrating that practical hydrogen solutions now exist that are ready to be embraced at scale."
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