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The quest to go faster on water has challenged both man and machine for centuries. Whether for trading, waging war, or simply winning a coveted trophy, the desire for higher speeds has been relentless down the ages. –
Modern-day challengers have a clear benchmark against which to measure their skill and ingenuity. The World Water Speed Record is the pinnacle of sporting achievement on water – a compelling contest by man and machine, played out on a backcloth of wind and wave, distance and time.
The World Water Speed Record has a long and colourful history. Previous holders and challengers have included the American inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the fabled British soldier and author "Lawrence of Arabia", and the legendary English "speed kings" Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell with their iconic Bluebirds.
Quicksilver is a new boat for a new generation, inspired by the past. We are striving to extend the reach of human endeavour and advance Britain's technological achievements on the world stage.
The Quicksilver World Water Speed Record Challenge is Britain's bid to bring the record back to these shores after a long absence.
It is sobering to reflect that it is now 57 years since the last British boat to hold the record was built.
Britain can do better than that!
Australia has held the World Water Speed Record for 33 years, in spite of competition from America. The record stands at 317.60 mph (511.11 kph). It is now 44 years since Britain last held this prestigious international prize. The Quicksilver team aims to break Australia's long hold on the record and return it to the shores of the nation which has made more water-speed history than any other.
We are a dedicated group of highly-skilled volunteer specialists and companies focused on common aims, led by the founder of the project, Nigel Macknight.
With Quicksilver the philosophy is to use modern technology in design, construction and operation in order to increase safety margins very substantially beyond what has been feasible in the past.
Furthermore, uniquely, Quicksilver has a modular construction. No other machine in speed-record history, on either water or land, has been designed to be modified rapidly, 'in the field', as Quicksilver has. This modular design philosophy will permit us to undertake an on-going development programme; a step-by-step approach which emphasises safety, without detracting from the essential excitement of the challenge of going faster on water than anyone has ever gone before.