Earthrace en route to Taranaki

They've been shot at in Colombia, detained in Guatemala, survived dozens of storms at sea and one of their next stops is Port Taranaki.

World record-setting powerboat Earthrace is on course for New Plymouth and skipper Pete Bethune and his crew will be on hand to regale locals with tales of the high seas.

Earthrace, a New Zealand built trimaran powerboat, smashed almost two weeks off the Round the World speed record last year, travelling almost 24,000 nautical miles in a time of 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes.

They beat the record despite a horrific crash into a fishing vessel off the Guatemalan coast.

A local fisherman was killed in the accident and Earthrace and her crew were detained by Guatemalan authorities for 11 days after the accident.

While in New Plymouth the boat will be open to the public at the Lee Breakwater from 10am to 6pm on Monday, May 25 and 10am to 5pm on Tuesday, May 26.

An evening with Pete Bethune is being held from 7.30pm on May 25 at the New Plymouth Sport Fishing and Underwater Club.

Cover charges for the evening and boat viewings are $5 for adults, $2.50 for children and $10 for families with money raised going to the Taranaki Coastguard.

Earthrace broke the 10-year-old world circumnavigation record, held by British boat Cable and Wireless Adventurer, using only biofuel from sustainable sources to draw attention to and create debate about renewable fuels.

After her epic voyage finished in Spain last year, Earthrace and her crew embarked on a world tour promoting renewable fuels and sustainable living and more than 180,000 people have boarded the now battered vessel and spoken to the crew.

- © Fairfax NZ News