Climate change clips wings of Greenbird record bid

The British team hoping to Dale Vince, part of the two man team behind the Greenbird 'sail car', has blamed the cancellation on climate change.

The Australian lake hosting the attempt is normally dry in September, but 29mm more rain fell in July and August this year than in 2007. In 12 hours in August alone, the lake received as much rain as it would normally in the entire month.

Writing on his blog, team member Richard Jenkins says that the water currently on the lake is likely to be there for a month. That rules out the window for this year's bid to break the current wind-powered speed record of 116.7mph.

Dale describes the weather as "unusual and changing patterns, typical results of the impact of climate change."

Water is poison for a speed bid, because it creates the risk of aquaplaning -- losing traction and control because of surface water.

All is not lost for fans of the Greenbird. An ice version of the sail car will compete in Montana in January 2009.

Click here to see more photos of the Greenbird