By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

The much anticipated Earthrace boat docked at 7 a.m. yesterday at the Neco Marine, making Palau the 41st day of its quest to set the world record for circumnavigating globe by a powerboat.
Vice President Elias Camsek Chin and Paramount Chief Yutaka Gibbons led a simple ceremony to welcome the crew.
Prior to Palau, the boat was in Majuro, Marshall Islands and will continue to Singapore.
The crew will stay for 24 hours to make some repairs on the boat.
Chin said the boat’s stop in Palau will help promote the country, Pete Bethune, the boat’s skipper assured the vice president that Palau will get its share of promotion.
The Earthrace boat is an 80-foot trimaran which runs purely on biodiesel.
Bethune said the boat is built to handle rough seas because it is specifically designed to pierce through waves rather than go over them.
The boat is trying to beat the current record of 75 days, and the crew started its attempt on March 10 from Barbados, then San Diego, California Hawaii, Majuro, and Palau.
From Singapore , the boat will go to Singapore, India, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Greece, Spain, Canary Islands , Atlantic Ocean and back to Barbados.
The boat crew composed of Pete , Ryan and Marty and a cinematographer.
After travelling 11 miles, Earthrace needs 13 miles more to complete the needed 24,000 miles to set a new record.
From Majuro to Palau, it took the boat six days to travel but the trip was however delayed for two days because of engine problems.
The present world record for circumnavigation of the globe by a powerboat is 75 days set in 1998 by the British powerboat Cable and Wireless.
The boat is promoting biodiesel as a viable alternative to petroleum diesel.
Palau’s Bureau of Public Safety, Division of Transportation, Ministry of State Miriam Ramarui and Custom’s officials assisted in the safe arrival of the boat.
The Palau government is also thanking Neco Marine for its assistance.