On Wednesday the 22nd November 1989, Fiona, the Countess of Arran set a new World Record of 50.825 mph (81.793kph) in an electric boat named "An Stradag".  This beat the previous record set by Miss Nickel Eagle in 1978, by a clear 5mph.  The name is derived from Gaelic meaning "the spark."

The seed for this record attempt was planted three years earlier by a group of men keen to sweep away the prejudices against electric motor boating as being anything other than a sedate 6mph for a limited distance.  So it was that in September 1986 Rupert Latham (Steam & Electric Launch Company of Wroxham, Norfolk) and Kevin Desmond steered the 21ft "Frolic 998" out onto the Norfolk Broads and cruised continuously for 23 hours, covering 101 miles without recharging.

Then in December 1987 at Regents Canal, Little Venice, West London, five skiffs fitted with electric outboard motors and one standard 12v Oldham battery, cruised around a 3/4 mile course (1320 yards) until their batteries were exhausted.  The winner of this event organised by Lucas, was Andrew Wolstenholme in his 15 foot boat "Chippendale-Sprite."  This boat was powered by a prototype radial armature, permanent magnet built by Cedric Lynch. 

An Stradag on her record return run

"An Stradag" was designed by Lorne Campbell.  It was built by Nick Barlow of Mayday Marine, Woolston, Southampton, of gabon plywood bonded together with epoxy resin to form a 3 point hydroplane 15 feet long and weighing in at just 210 lbs.  She used four packs of SB40 aircarft starter batteries and four Lynch motors driving through chains to two three bladed surface piercing propellers.

The record set by Miss Nickel Eagle remains a national one simply because before 1988 the UIM had no official category for electric powerboats.  However, this deficiency was brought to the attention of the RYA and the UIM by the efforts of Kevin Desmond and others and finally the Rules written to bring the sport up to date with current events.

Countess Lady Arran signals her satisfaction

An Stradag was sponsored by:-

Harwin connectors - 

Hawker Energy - 

DMS electronics - 

Electro Marine Technology - motors

Morganite - 

Benning UK - electronics

Hallmark trailers - 

Jewson timber and building supplies - plywood

S P Resins, Cowes - adhesives  and others........

.......without sponsorship this record could not have been achieved - thanks to all who contributed.

The standing Union Internationale Motornautique (UIM) record belongs to Fiona, Countess of Arran, whose 1989 mark in An Stradag stands at 50.825mph (81.793kph).