The Earthrace project has also relied heavily on the kindness of strangers, including a rotating, all-volunteer crew. Because Bethune had never taken a boat out of the sight of land, the Earthrace has two experienced sailors helping with the open-ocean sailing, where waves the size of houses can challenge the most able mariner.
With three hulls and a pair of state-of-the-art engines, the Earthrace, which looks a bit like a large metallic swan, is designed to cut through waves up to 15m high without slowing and can reach speeds of 74kph, which boating experts say could help in its record attempt.
"The fact that it's a wave cutter and a tri-hull, you're talking about high speeds here," said Stuart Reininger, a writer for Motor Boating magazine and an expert on power boats.
"I'm sure they could do it," he said.
But running on biodiesel, which is harder to find, would complicate things, Reininger said.
"You're talking about a fuel that doesn't have supply stations located everywhere," he said.
The Earthrace is 24m long, but the living space is cramped with just a closet-size room with four bunks. The galley is similarly basic, with only a kettle, a microwave and a toaster. There is no shower, a fact that Bethune said added a certain musk to the journey.
"You kind of lose your sense of smell," he said. "But then when you get off, people are like, `Oy, mate, this boat stinks."'
Then there are the curious smells that follow biodiesel vehicles in general, often reflecting the fuel's origins.
"You may smell doughnuts, you may smell french fries," said Josh Tickell of the advocacy group Biodiesel America. "People say they smell fried catfish, but that might be a stretch."
Biodiesel gives off fewer emissions than regular oil-based diesel. It is also nontoxic and biodegradable, making it an ideal fuel for boats, Tickell said.
"It biodegrades in water as fast as sugar," he said.
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