In June, an amazing looking trimaran with a swept-back “wave-piercing” design set a new world record for a powerboat circumnavigation of the world — 24,000 nautical miles in 61 days, taking 14 days off the previous world record.

And it was hailed as an eco-achievement.

I snorted at first. Run a fuel-guzzling POWER boat at top speed around the world, and this is supposed to say good things about conservation?

But the boat runs on biodiesel, and the point was to show that running 100 percent renewable fuel, 100 percent carbon neutral — and breaking the world record for circumnavigation to boot — could be done.

Now, Earthrace is continuing with a two-year promotional tour before returning home to New Zealand.

It’s an amazing boat: Parts of the hull are made from hemp composite. Lubricants are made from vegetable oils. The crew wears clothing of bamboo fiber and eats organic or local foods “whenever possible.”

They won me over.

You can track the whole thing online and read more about the project, from eco-details to New Zealander Capt. Pete Behune’s lively blog.

Not long ago, the crew was in Valencia.

After completing the big circumnavigation, Behune was waxing philosophical: “Earthrace is like a tribe. It gives us something to belong to, and something bigger than just ourselves. It allows us to contribute to a cause we believe in. This amazing group of talented people are all part of a great tribe that spans so many countries, cultures and demographics. It transcends wealth and status. We are all basically equal, and all doing our bit. What joins us together is the world’s coolest boat, and the notion that we can and do make a difference with our efforts.”

Okay, this was after a night of celebratory partying: “We’re a tangled mass of limbs writhing away on the dance floor. The heavy base from the fat stereo system pumps away at my rib cage, and my head is a swirling maze of music, emotion, and alcohol.”

But the point stands.

Alas, the boat isn’t coming to the U.S. any time soon. So we’ll just have to keep up with Bethune online to see what he’s up to next.

On a section of the website that sumarizes what biodiesel can be made from — canola, soy, coconut, palm opil, mustard seed, sunflower, animal fat (tallow), fish oil, seaweed and algae — it notes that Bethune underwent liposuction, “and the fat (all 100ml) was used to make a small amount of biodiesel for Earthrace!”

Now THAT’S dedication.