Water speed record

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

1970s to the present

Until November 20 1977, every official water speed record had been set by an American or Briton. That day Australian Ken Warby broke the Anglo-American domination when he piloted his Spirit of Australia to 288.6 mph (464.5 km/h) to beat Lee Taylor?s record. Warby, who had built the craft in his back yard, used the publicity to find sponsorship to pay for improvements to the Spirit. On October 8 1978 Warby travelled to Blowering Dam, Australia, and broke both the 300 mph (483 km/h) and 500 km/h barriers with an average speed of 317.18 mph (510 km/h).

Related Topics:
November 20 - 1977 - Ken Warby

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As of 2005, Warby?s record still stands. There have only been two official attempts to break it. Lee Taylor tried to get the record back in 1980. Inspired by the land speed record cars Blue Flame and Budweiser Rocket, Taylor built a rocket-powered boat, Discovery II. The 40-foot long craft was a reverse three point design, similar to John Cobb?s Crusader, albeit of a much longer length. Originally Taylor tested the boat on Walker Lake in Nevada but his backers demanded a more accessible location, so Taylor switched to Lake Tahoe. An attempt was set for November 13 1980, but when conditions on the lake proved unfavourable, Taylor decided against trying for the record. Not wanting to disappoint the assembled spectators and media, he decided to do a test run instead. At 270 mph (435 km/h) Discovery II hit a swell and one of the floats collapsed, sending the boat plunging into the water. Taylor?s body and his destroyed craft were never recovered. In 1989, Craig Arfons, nephew of famed record breaker Art Arfons, tried for the record in his all-carbon-fibre Rain X Challenger, but died when the hydroplane somersaulted at 300 mph (483 km/h).

Related Topics:
Blue Flame - Budweiser Rocket - Walker Lake - Lake Tahoe - November 13 - 1980 - Craig Arfons - Art Arfons

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Despite the high fatality rate, the record is still coveted by boat enthusiasts and racers. Currently there are three major projects aiming for the record. The British Quicksilver http://www.quicksilver-wsr.co.uk, The American Challenge project http://www.americanchallengewsr.com, and spurred into action by the new challengers, Ken Warby has also built a new boat http://www.kenwarby.com/introduction.htm.

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In 2001, Bluebird K7 was raised from Coniston Water by members of the Bluebird Project.

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