New world records set by powerboats in Lake District

Day one of the 52^nd Coniston Records Week has got off to a flying start.  

Coniston Power Boat Records Week is considered by many as the world’s premier water speed record event and sees British and International drivers attempt to raise the bar of speed record in their class of watercraft on Coniston Water.

With 14 entries signed in, there were plenty of drivers ready to go and the excellent weather and water conditions spectators saw the records coming in thick and fast.

The first competitor down the kilometre run this week is no stranger to Records Week.

Thomas Mantripp, 23, of Lowestoft, is already a well established world and British national record breaker in Junior Monohull classes and more recently, multiple hydroplane classes.

This year Thomas is competing in the F250 Hydroplane class and yesterday morning set a new world and British national record of 106.42mph taking his speed record tally to four world record and five British national records.

Another competitor from Lowestoft is also the youngest competitor of the week.

Thirteen-year-old Poppy Stewart is returning after her Coniston debut last year in the GT15 class. After making several attempts throughout today in her boat named Poptastic, Poppy broke and rebroke the GT15 world and British national record eventually settling at a top speed of 40.52mph for the day. Poppy will be seeking to increase this during the week.

Another record breaker of day one was Helen Loney who is a veteran of records week.

Helen, of Kendal, who is the current holder of the Ladies Outright British National Record today entered her Phantom Monohull boat named Bolero in two classes and set records in both.

Firstly in the GT Monohull Unlimited (Mono Over 1.3 litre) class Helen set a new British National record at 73.90mph.

Later in the day, Helen entered the boat in the Group A (HOCR) Sports Boats Max 300HP class and set a new World and British National record of 74.44mph. Her endeavours will continue for the rest of the week.   

The fastest run of the day was Sam Whittle from the Powertec Marine team in the S2000 class who set a new British National record at 127.42mph, leaving just 2mph to find during the rest of the week to take the world record speed in that class from his father Keith.

The first day of records week 2024 saw a total of 37 runs with 17 records set during day one.

Read about day two here.

Nigel Thompson went behind the scenes at Coniston Records Week – you can read all about that here on our sister site Business Crack