On March 6, Earthrace - a powerboat run on biodiesel - will set off from Barbados on a trip to attempt to break the world record on circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat. However, the true Earthrace journey started over three years ago. Run by Pete Bethune of New Zealand, this Captain has a background in the oil industry. Truly on a mission to promote the use of alternative fuels, he and his crew (all volunteers) have been dedicated to this project, to spread the word and inspire change.

A completely custom built boat, Earthrace started out on its world promotional tour one year ago. It will soon attempt to break the "round the world" record - set in 1998 at 75 days, hoping to finish in around 65 days. It already has a huge following - people track the boat's travels and location through Earthrace.net.

The project has run out of funding several times during the past few years, but somehow they always find a donor and a way to continue on. In fact, one of the coolest ways to donate to Earthrace is to pay to be the fifth crew member on a leg of the race.

When the boat stopped recently in Miami, I had a chance to sit down and chat with the captain Pete, the resident videographer Ryan, and other boat and ground crew members. And yes, I even went for a ride. Below you'll find the video of that experience, with even more details straight from the captain about why this project is important, what types of biodiesel they have used (you'll be surprised!), and more ways that the boat is eco-friendly.

If you're feeling generous, consider helping out Earthrace in one way or another. They still need so many details to come together to make this race happen. To get a taste of last-minute issues, check out the ground crew blog!