Seahound V sets new National Speed Records

Photo courtesy of HotribsNot content with taking it easy this Autumn, at the start of November 2011 Chris Strickland and Jon Adlard decided to take Chris’s Scorpion Sting “Seahound V” on a road-trip to the lake district to participate in the Coniston Power Boat Records Week.

For those of us not familiar with this event, it is a “once a year” opportunity in the UK for those with big spheres to tear up and down Coniston Water at top speed. With all the official timing and organisational trimmings in place if you go fast enough you get a nice shiny star and a place in the record books for your efforts. The course is 1km up Coniston water and then return 1km. The average time is then taken and converted into mph.

This year there have been a few class changes, so Chris and Jon were able to go for a number of different records.

Having thoroughly polished its bottom to remove any squashed flies picked up on the journey to Coniston, on Thursday 3^rd November Seahound was duly launched. Chris went first, and in a cloud of diesel smoke shot off up the course to show everyone what he could do. It was pretty impressive. Chris managed a blistering 58.69 mph – setting a new record in R1 class. For details of the various classes (or if you need help sleeping) you can read the Class Details and Rules for Ribs in PB1.

As Chris said afterwards "Following this first run, we stripped everything we could out of Seahound and after three more attempts I managed to make 59.66mph"

Congratulations Chris! - This set a new national record.

Once Chris had had his turn, Jon took to the helm. As it wasn’t his boat, I think he must have been just that bit more gung-ho! Due to a quirk of the regulations, Jon was able to go for a different record – he was able to run to the old RIB rules that are still current with the UIM. His class was “twin engine supersport” - and he eventually clocked 59.7mph. Another national record!

Both Chris and Jon were also awarded Silver K7 stars, which are awarded only to those who have broken national records on Coniston Water - so both are current record holders in two different classes

Chris commented “John also got a cup and medal as the cup is retained for the fastest BIBOA member! - Can you believe - in my boat!
It was great fun and we must go again next year as there are more class records to be taken”

Fortunately for us, Ian Greenwood (http://peninsulamaritime.com/) was on hand with his camera to take some fantastic shots of Chris and Jon in their prime. For more photos look at the Racing Gallery, and for even more - and a few videos, follow this link to Ian's video in his photobucket album... Seahound in action and to the hotribs forum where the photos were 1st published.