Ady Gil Earthrace Demolished by Whaleboat

Looks like Earthrace Trimaran design Ady Gil has been rammed into submission by a Japanese whaling security detail boat:

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd’s stealth boat Ady Gil has been cut in half by a Japanese security vessel in the Antarctic today, the group’s leader Paul Watson said.

The $1.5 million high-tech vessel’s remains were sinking, but its six-man crew had been rescued and was uninjured, Captain Watson told Fairfax.

Captain Watson said the Ady Gil was idling in waters near Commonwealth Bay when it was suddenly approached and rammed by the Japanese ship Shonan Maru, which has been detailed to provide security to the fleet. [link]

The Earthrace design is pretty awesome: Ady Gil was apparently a Sea Shepard purchase of one of their designs. Any attempt at biodiesal and carbon neutralling the power hungry powerboat crowd must be praised, with or without any greenwashing component. Sad but true that rogue overzealous security destroys yet another attempt at improving progress.

Ady Gil Rammed Video:

Details on Earthrace design here: http://www.earthrace.net and here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthrace.