Dynamic Dr Jan joins new round-the-world record attempt
Capital’s Dr Jan Falkowski is returning to the oceans with the crew of Team Britannia, a new round-the-world record attempt.
The consultant psychiatrist and experienced powerboat racer will join the round-the-world powerboat, which hopes to cut up to seven days off the current record of 60 days 23 hours 49 minutes, held by New Zealander Pete Bethune.
Team Britannia, led by British ocean racing legend Alan Priddy, will use a revolutionary designed boat that will reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent and make the 23,000 nautical mile trip smoother and faster.
The boat will be crewed by a team of 12, including up to five wounded and injured veterans on each of the seven legs of the voyage. The veterans are being supported by the charity Blesma.
Mr Priddy commented: “I am delighted that my latest record attempt reunites me with Dr Jan. Jan and I have completed many voyages together and so he is a key part of the team that will bring the round-the-world record home to Britain. Experience and a cool head matters when you’re navigating the world’s oceans, and Jan brings yet another illustrious nautical CV to Team Britannia.”
Dr Jan Falkowski added: “I am really looking forward to taking part in the greatest powerboating challenge in the world – especially to be doing it under the watchful eye of Alan Priddy. Alan has assembled a great team and I look forward to co-skippering what is a brilliant opportunity to showcase Britain’s maritime clout on a global level.”
Jan, who comes from London, will be Team Britannia’s co-skipper on their round-the-world record attempt. As well as being second in command, Jan is the ship’s doctor, possessing a plethora of medical qualifications and is one of the UK’s top consultant psychiatrists.
Jan has been heavily involved in RIBs and powerboat racing since the first round Scotland race in 1990. He has set nine world records and currently holds seven, and as a member of Team Buzzi Bullet/Silverline, Jan took second in the powerboat P1 world championships in 2004, 2005 and 2007 and 2009.
Just some of the many world records held by Jan include Round the British Isles, London-Gibraltar, Gibraltar-Monaco and London-Monaco. In 2010, he competed in the 50th Cowes – Poole – Cowes race, finishing first, and also took part in the Around Long Island race.
In addition to fuel-efficient design, the boat will use a pollution cutting Water-in-Diesel (WiDE) fuel emulsion power the two race-tuned Fiat Power Train C13 500, 6 cylinder engines. The boat is being built by the Aluminium Boatbuilding Company who are based near Portsmouth and will be fitting the latest navigation and communications equipment from the British marine industry.
The boat will be launched in late 2017 and will then commence sea trials. The record attempt will get underway next year using the iconic Europa Point in Gibraltar as its timing mark.
To complete the record attempt 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. The world record authorities, UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) have approved Team Britannia’s proposed route, which will start in Gibraltar and call at Puerto Rico, Manzanillo, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and Malta to take on fuel.
Mr Priddy concluded: “We are at a crucial and exciting point in the project. The boat is being built and we are putting together our team, both shore-based and those who will take part in this epic challenge. I am really pleased Jan will be my co-skipper on this exciting challenge, his CV is bristling with world records and I am sure that the greatest record is yet to come – I cannot wait to get started!”
ENDS