According to a press release by Extreme E, its magnificent ship, the St. Helena is all set to sail for the championship’s opening race weekend, which will be held in Saudi Arabia on April 3-4. The event was marked in Liverpool, UK by Extreme E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag
who said: “Today I feel extremely proud. The departure of the St. Helena marks the start of her new voyage. Extreme E’s first season is now officially underway.” The former Royal Mail Ship that served as a lifeline to St. Helena Island was under Extreme E’s stewardship for more than two years now. The ship underwent a splendid multi-million euro renovations comprising extensive mechanical overhaul along with a full fledged redesigning of the interior. The championship’s cargo from the teams and partners has been loaded onto the St. Helena this week. The items consist of race fleet of electric vehicles (ODYSSEY 21) fitted with Continental tyres, Air Shelta tents that will serve as the team garages, the podium, the start gantry, equipment used for TV and broadcasting, Three 3devo machines to turn plastic waste into trophies for the championship, BRIG Eagle 8 carbon black support boats, zero-emission car charging hydrogen fuel cell created in collaboration with AFC Energy, along with a wide range of Bosch tools. The approach to the refit was to considerably improve, while leaving behind as small an environmental footprint as possible. The ship will use low-energy LED lights, low-water consumption bathroom fittings along with chairs made from recycling plastic bottles from the Mediterranean. After leaving the UK, the St. Helena will travel through the Mediterranean to Saudi Arabia and then head back through the Mediterranean to Senegal, across to Greenland, down to the Amazon and then to the final destination, Tierra del Fuego, Argentine Patagonia.