Donald Campbell’s record-breaking hydroplane, Bluebird K7 travelled to Poole to be reunited with the World Water Speed Trophy for the first time since Donald Campbell CBE’s tragic death on Coniston Water in 1967.
Thanks to the kind permission of the Ruskin Museum in Coniston the record-breaking boat visited the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Poole to celebrate the club’s long relationship with the water speed record. The club is custodian of the World Water Speed Trophy which has been presented to the fastest boat on water for the past 87 years.
Holders of the record have included both Donald Campbell and his father Sir Malcom Campbell, and more recently Australian Ken Warby who took the record to a staggering 317mph in 1978. Despite several attempts, no boat has yet beaten that record.
The Trophy has spent many years in Australia with the family of Ken Warby, but since his death last year the family have allowed the club to collect the Trophy from Australia and return it to its home in Poole.
Guests at the club to witness this historic event included HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, and Lord Beaverbrook. Donald Campbell’s daughter Gina Campbell also saw Bluebird and the magnificent trophy reunited for the first time since the tragic loss of her father.
The boat was recovered from the depths of Coniston Water in 2001 and fully restored by enthusiasts, before being given to the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, which is now her permanent home. Following celebrations at the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Bluebird travelled to the Beaulieu Motor Museum to be briefly on show to the public before heading to Samlesbury near Preston where the boat was originally constructed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its build.
The Trophy itself was made in 1870 for the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, as a cup for schooner racing in the UK, replacing the America’s Cup which had been lost to the USA previously. In 1937 the Trophy was given to the Royal Motor Yacht Club and has been presented as The World’s Water Speed Trophy ever since.
Donald Campbell last held the record at 276mph, but this was then exceeded by Australian Ken Warby and despite several attempts remains unbeaten. However, there are now credible teams preparing to challenge for the Trophy from UK and Australia, including the current holder’s son Dave Warby, who has already achieved over 260mph in his preparations.
