BLADERUNNER 51
The Record
British Adventurer, Neil McGrigor and his team on board the Bradstone Challenger, a 51ft Blade Runner powerboat, have smashed the outright World Record for the fastest powerboat sprint around Britain. The team completed the circumnavigation in 27 hours and 10 minutes, beating the existing record of 30 hours and 59 minutes by 3 hours and 49 minutes!
The Boat
The Bradstone Challenger, a Bladerunner 51, designed by Lorne Campbell and built by UK based Ice Marine is powered by twin 1000hp CATS driving Arneson Surface Drives. Pioneered by ICE Marine her AEM (Air Entrapment Monohull) is radically different to a conventional monohull, in its dramatic twin tunnels generating phenomenal air dynamic lifts thus enhancing performance and handling.
Since arriving at the Inwards display site testing has proved extremely successful. Timed runs have exceeded a mind blowing 72 knots (83mph) with a full throttle range of just over 500 miles.
The Team
Led by Neil McGrigor, together with Tony Jenvey, Jeremy Watts and Lorne Campbell, they formed a formidable team with extensive experience and an unrivalled collection of world championship wins and records.
As well as a dedicated shore support, re-fuel logistics and tactical weather team the challenge was also supported by the Royal Navy. They provided airborne logistics and filming throughout the attempt as part of their ‘counter terrorism fast waterborne attack’ programme!
The Record
The attempt began at 0700 on Thursday 12 August when the boat blasted across the start line at the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. The team, Neil, Tony Jenvey, Jeremy Watts and John Guille, left the Solent in bright sunshine and flat calm and were able to take in the sights as they raced down the West coast of Britain, including some of the larger yachts in the Fasnet Race. However the team soon encountered choppy weather conditions as they rounded Land’s End and headed up the Irish Sea.
They also experienced overcast skies, significant breeze and confused seas on the night passage down the North Sea. Despite this the team managed to maintain a huge lead on the record throughout all of the five refuel stops in Penzance, Northern Ireland, Kyle of Lochalsh, Peterhead and Great Yarmouth.
Bradstone Challenger finally crossed the line at 10.10 to the welcome sound of a finish gun from the Royal Yacht Squadron. The team were then joined by friends and family who accompanied them to a welcome party at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.
Commenting on breaking the record Neil McGrigor said “I am absolutely delighted and relieved! We proved that if the whole team, both on the boat and on the shore, can work together we can achieve a outstanding result”
We are lucky enough to proudly have the GT4 version of the blade runner on our display site at Hamble Point Marina. She combiens agressive looks with astounding performance, her top speed being around 60 mph!!
