First Great Britain circumnavigation on electric vessel

Setting off from Lyme Regis on the south coast of England, the team made 45 stops around Great Britain – including stopping at Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.

The timing was spot on – Harry said when planning it, which started in 2021 but was held up by a year, they anticipated it to last between four and six weeks. The actual trip took 31 days, 20 hours and 46 minutes.

The boat was supported by ground crew that tracked the journey in an electric Maxus T90 EV pick-up truck, in which they slept – “It has a double bed in the back and a double roof tent, not loads of space but a welcome rest and better than sleeping in the boat!” says Harry.

During the 31 days they managed eight nights in actual beds – ”one hotel, one Sea Cadet unit, five friends’ houses and one random very kind family on the Isle of Man,” he said.

Disappointingly for a journalist there were no real issues faced during the voyage, other than a slight router problem due to a corroded power supply, Harry says, which was replaced and fixed.

“Seeing the beautiful natural environment was the best thing,” Harry says. “The British coast is so beautiful and to be able to see so much of it from the water, without damaging the environment we were appreciating, was a great feeling.”

Strictly speaking, Electra didn’t circumnavigate the entire British main island as in the north of Scotland a lack of charging opportunities would have made it impossible – so the team went through the Caledonian Canal to transit northern Scotland.

“Demand in the emarine sector needs to increase to give manufacturers confidence to move forward with new products, and to give harbours and ports a reason to invest in shoreside charging,” said mum Jaqui Besley.

Supporters of the trip included British Marine, the British Ports Association, the RYA and the UK Harbour Masters Association.