Water speed record

The World Unlimited water speed record is the officially recognised fastest speed achieved by a water-borne vehicle.

1930s

Like the land speed record, the water record was destined to become a scrap for national honour between Britain and the USA. American success in setting records spurred Castrol Oil chairman Lord Wakefield to sponsor a project to bring the water record to Britain. Famed land speed record breaker and racing driver Sir Henry Segrave was hired to pilot a new boat called Miss England. Although the boat wasn?t capable of beating Gar Wood?s Miss America, the British team did gain experience that they put into an improved boat. Miss England II was powered by two Rolls-Royce aircraft engines and seemed capable of beating Wood?s record.

Related Topics:
Land speed record - Castrol - Henry Segrave - Rolls-Royce - Aircraft engine

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On July 13 1930, Segrave drove Miss England II to a new record of 98.76 mph (158.94 km/h) average speed during two runs on Windermere, in Britain?s Lake District. Having set the record, Segrave set off on a third run to try to improve the record further. Unfortunately during the run, the boat struck an object in the water and capsized, with both Segrave and his co-driver receiving fatal injuries.

Related Topics:
July 13 - 1930 - Windermere - Lake District

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Following Segrave?s death, Miss England II was salvaged from the lake and repaired. Another racing driver, Kaye Don, was chosen as the new driver for 1931. However, during this time Gar Wood recaptured the record for the US at 102.16 mph (164.41 km/h). A month later on Lake Garda, Don fought back with 110.223 mph (177.387 km/h). In February 1932, Wood responded, nudging the mark up by one mph (1.6 km/h).

Related Topics:
Kaye Don - 1931 - Lake Garda - 1932

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In response the continued American challenge, the British team build a new boat, Miss England III. The design was an evolution of the predecessor, with a squared-off stern and twin propellers being the main improvements. Don took the new boat to Loch Lomond in Scotland, on July 18 1932, improved the record first to 117.430 mph (188.985 km/h), and then to 119.810 mph (192.816 km/h) on a second run.

Related Topics:
Stern - Propeller - Loch Lomond - July 18 - 1932

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Determined to have the last word over his great rival, Gar Wood built another new Miss America. Miss America X was 12 metres long, and was powered by four supercharged Packard aeroplane engines. On September 20 1932, Wood drove his new monster-boat to 124.860 mph (200.943 km/h). It would prove to be the end of an era. Don declined to attempt any further records, and Miss England III became a museum piece. Wood also opted to scale-down his involvement in racing and returned to running his businesses. Somewhat ironically, both of the daredevil record-breakers would live to their 90s. Wood died in 1971, and Kaye Don in 1985.

Related Topics:
Packard - September 20 - 1932 - 1971 - 1985

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