AN 18-year-old skipper will attempt to drive an electric boat around Britain in summer 2024.

Harry Besley lives in Lyme Regis and attends Wellington School. He is setting off from Lyme Regis, Henry and the team will be using a variety of shoreside charging solutions.

This environmental challenge stems from the absence of alternatives to fossil fuel propulsion in the small leisure powerboat sector.

The Round Britain eRIB challenge is a not-for-profit event which aims to support the marine industry’s transition to electric propulsion for leisure and small commercial craft.

The electric RIB will be used to showcase the capabilities of electric propulsion in UK coastal waters.

A significant part of the Round Britain eRIB project is to demonstrate charging options for sailing clubs, marinas, harbour authorities, port operators and private owners to support the transition of their vessels to electric, zero emission propulsion.

Encouraging and building knowledge about the charging options for eBoats helps build momentum in the direction of the UK Government target which states in the Clean Maritime Plan 2050 that “all new vessels being ordered for use in UK waters are being designed with zero emission propulsion capability.”

The Round Britian eRIB project, which was deferred from last year, has today announced the following Sponsors: HARRIS MAXUS will be providing their 100% electric T90EV pickup truck as a ground support vehicle. With a range of 220 miles and a payload of 1000Kg this vehicle is the first of its kind in the UK.

Mark Barrett, Managing Director of Group Franchise at Harris Group, distributor of MAXUS in the UK and Ireland, said: “MAXUS is proud to support Harry as he embarks on his quest to circumnavigate Britain in an electric power boat and we wish Harry all the best on his journey.

"As part of our support, we are providing Harry’s team with a MAXUS T90EV pickup truck, allowing the team to stay emission-free at every mile as they follow Harry on his trip around Britain.

“This partnership is more than just a sponsorship; it's a shared journey towards a greener future. People like Harry are an inspiration, prompting others to take action and chart a course towards a brighter, cleaner tomorrow and we are delighted to play our small part in this mission."