Team Britannia’s audacious attempt to beat the round-the-world powerboat record will not go unnoticed by the public after the team signed a landmark TV deal to let the Discovery Channel document the event as part of a ten-episode television series.

The team, which is being led by ocean-racing icon Alan Priddy, will attempt to beat the existing record of 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, currently held by Kiwi Pete Bethune, who set the record in 2008 with his 78-foot powered trimaran.

Priddy will be spearheading Team Britannia’s attempt to eclipse Bethune’s time and will have the Discovery Channel documenting the team’s preparations ahead of its November 1 set-off date in Gibraltar, as well as the development, construction, and testing of its 80-foot, torpedo-shaped vessel. According to Priddy, the vessel will be designed with what it calls a “wave-slicing” technology that can cut fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent, which would presumably make the 24,000-mile trip faster and smoother than Bethune’s attempt seven years ago.

The team believes that it can make the same trip in about 50 days and it’s making sure to have all its bases covered by fielding an experienced team of powerboat racing champions and wounded military personnel from Team Endeavour.

Such an ambitious attempt at a world record shouldn’t go unnoticed by the public. That’s why this deal between Team Britannia, Lime Pictures and the Discovery Channel is an important step towards creating more awareness of the £2.9-million round-the-world record attempt.

Continue reading to read more about Team Britannia's partnership with the Discovery Channel.

Why it matters

I’ve been a fan of the Discovery Channel for as long as I can remember so I’m aware of the network’s capabilities when it comes to producing critically acclaimed documentaries.

I’m also excited to see how the Discovery Channel packages this documentary because I myself don’t know the inner workings behind the preparation of such a daunting record-breaking attempt. I can’t even begin to imagine spending that many days in a row in the ocean, let alone staying focused on the job at hand with our colleagues. Wrapping my head around that thought is already making me dizzy.

And it’s not like the Discovery Channel has it easy itself. The production team will also have its hands full filming a majority of the documentary with Team Britannia. That in itself makes for a pretty compelling documentary. But if there’s a group that has proven to be up-to-the-task with gruelling production schedules, it’s the Discovery Channel.

I just hope that when the ten-part series airs on television, a lot of people will tune in and watch it. Record-breaking attempts like this don’t happen often so if there’s an opportunity to watch how something like this happens, take full advantage of it.