The Early History

THE EARLY HISTORY OF OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING IN BRITAIN

1961 CABIN CRUISER

When Sir Max Aitken instigated the Daily Express Offshore Powerboat Race from Cowes to Torquay racing was very much still in its infancy and was primarily aimed at the development of the small cruiser type craft that proliferated around Britain’s shores.

The craft were based on pre war designs and the very common round bilge and hard chine principle, although by 1961 Ray Hunts deep ” V” design was fast making inroads into the market. The logic of Sir Max’s race rules were to encourage the development of seaworthy craft capable of enduring the constantly changing conditions off Britain’s coast.

For the first 5 years the majority of entrants were cabin cruisers from a multitude of builders, many of whom are no longer in existence but paved the way for today’s ultra reliable offshore craft…and it was not just the build and design that adapted to these rules but also engine reliability.

Many builders were based on the south coast, with the highest concentration on the Isle of Wight, Southampton and the river Hamble...other notable builders were based in Weymouth, Cornwall and the East coast.

See how many off these names you recognise

James Taylor                           Chertsey                

Morgan Giles                           Teignmouth

R & W Clark                             Cowes

Cox and Haswell                     Christchurch

Port Hamble                             Hamble

Watson Westcraft                   Topsham

Jenners                                   Thorpe

Keith Nelson/Thorneycroft   Bembridge

Dell Quay                                 Havant

Fairey Marine                         Hamble

Bruce Campbell                     Hamble

Shakespeare                         Tewkesbury

Pochin                                     Cheshire

Dorset Lake                           Poole

Vosper                                   Portsmouth

Tod                                         Weymouth

Of the above named builders a couple survive in name only but most have vanished and the once great names of the 1960’s are now consigned to history.

If you take a look at the list of entrants for the 1961 race you will also see several foreign entrant’s , bear in mind this was the first European powerboat race, it had attracted entries from Italy, Sweden, America and Norway.

Bertram Yacht Co           Miami

Cantiere Navaltecna     Anzio

Ancas                               Oslo

Botved/Coronet             Denmark/Sweden

Owens Yacht Co             Baltimore

Even more fascinating were the engines used, this became more apparent as the decade passed but that first year saw a mix of outboards and inboards and the soon to become dominant Inboard/Outboard as pioneered by American Jim Wynne

Chryslers rated at                     225hp             USA

Mercury Outboards                   70hp               USA

Crusaders (V8 Cadillacs)           325hp           USA

Palmers (flat 8)                         135 hp           USA

Ford                                               84hp           British

Johnson Outboards                     75hp           USA

Perkins Diesel                             120hp           British

Rootes Lister                               100hp           British

Rolls Royce (yes RR)                 250hp           British

Volvo Penta                                 100hp           Sweden

Evinrude Outboards                   75hp           USA

Parsons Diesel                           100hp           British

Jaguar   (yes Jags)                     200 hp           British

Scott McCulloch Outboards       42hp           USA

Austin Healy (and yes again)     75hp         British

Then of course there were the designers, hoping to make their mark and name in this new sport, many of which went on to become household names…some of which were to become the most sought after in the offshore world..

Ray Hunt     designer of the deep V

William (Bill) Shakespeare     who became famous for his circuit racers

Uffa Fox       better known for his dingy and yacht designs

Colin Mudie   yacht and cruiser designer…later Sail Training ships

R and F Prout   who were designing and building motorised catamarans

Morgan Giles and Kenneth Collyer

Len Cox of Cox and Haswell

Renato Levi soon to become one of the worlds famed designers

Alan Venables   famous for circuit racers and later Class 3

Nils B Pran …

W.F. Rayner

Cdr Peter Thornycroft of the famous Thornycroft family and renowned Nelson Boats.

The melting pot that was the 1961 race was to set a pattern for development and reliability which continues to this day, has made motorboating a safe pursuit for thousands of sailors and crew, families and fishermen. It can be seen in the marinas which now nestle around all the popular boating regions of Britain where craft of all sizes sit awaiting the chance to explore our rich coastline.

Of the original 36 entrants, 27 actually came to the RYS start line on that rather stormy day and 14 arrived in Torquay. The first boat home Tommy Sowith’s Thunderbolt took 7hrs 25 mins to complete the 150 mile marathon journey…Nine were placed but five were outside the time limit.

the dye was cast and word spread fast …

FOOTNOTE :- Thunderbolt was the only production cruiser to wins] the Cowes Torquay and survives today being one of the few winning craft still in use.

1962 MIGHTY POWER

In the space of one year not only had the fleet size doubled but the horsepower had gone through the roof and the winner was the mighty Tramontana, powered by twin CRM’s based on Isotta Fraschini aero engines and totalling a whopping 2,308 hp.. plus the course had lengthened to 170miles.

The sport had also drawn a massive following with thousands of spectators lining Cowes promenade and spectator boats all along the south coast vantage points from Hurst Castle to Poole Bay, Durlston Head, Portland Bill Berry Head and the finish in Torquay. For the length of the coastline that was accessible for viewing a loudspeaker system was in place to keep the crowds enthralled with up to date placings, breakdowns and retirements.

Many new boats appeared plus craft from the previous year and the weather was as miserable despite the event moving to the Bank Holiday weekend but the crowds were there again and substantially larger.

Of the 47 entrants 42 started, Tommy Sopwith’s new boat was not ready neither was Bruce Campbell’s Chritina X. The German entry of Dr Trost failed to arrive,.. There were 3 entries from Italy all Sonny Levi designs, 2 from the USA and 1 from Norway. 2 Levi designs were entered by British owners ..Don Shead and Mr A Hubbard.

New craft appeared from established boat builders

Vosper     Portsmouth

Freezer     Hayling

Ancas         Norway

Freeman Marine

Chris Craft USA

Halmatic     Southampton

Jaqueline Group

Pearn and Son   Cornwall

W& J Tod Weymouth

Brooklands Aviation     Brooklands

Freeman Marine

Amphion Shipyard

Then we get to the engines which overall in 12 months has seen a major increase in power, gone were the humble small horsepower units. Many were now using high powered American engines, even the British based engine manufacturers had upped their output.

CRM                                       1154 hp         Italian

Chevrolet                                 300hp           USA

Catapillars Diesel                 215 hp         USA

Maserati                                 445 hp         Italy

Ford USA                                 330 hp         USA

Dearborn Interceptor           240hp           USA

GM Diesel                             125 HP         USA

Barracudas (Ford)                 100hp           GB

These were alongside the 1961 listings but the Outboard boats were fewer most were now inboard and Inboard /Outboard

Then when you check entrant’s and owner’s names, what an amazing mix of soon to be heroes , racing car drivers, Industrial Magnets, millionaires and tycoons….plus the boatbuilders themselves

R.S. ( Dick)WILKINS     Stock Broker

Sir Robert Hobart       Industrialist

Dr Emile Savundra       Insurance Tycoon

Cdr Attilio Petroni         Joint owner of Cantiere Navaltechnica

Gianni Agnelli               FIAT CARS

Peter Blond                   American Playboy

Jeffrey Quill                 Sound Barrier Pilot

John Coombs               Motor Sport team owner

Sir Max Aitken             Newspaper Publisher

And a certain Mr Donovan Shead…

Max Aitken was driving his acquisition Bertram’s Glass Moppie now sporting a cabin in line with the rules! Dick Bertram’s new boat Blue Moppie still had the low cuddy top with barely 4ft headroom!.. and no less than ace American Sam Griffith driving alongside Peter Blond.

Agnelli’s Ultima Dea powered by triple Maserati’s missed a mark and disqualified herself. Jim Wynne in YOYO 2 finished 3^rd with 200hp but of the 42 starters only 15 fished

Tramontana trounced them all at an average speed of 32 knots in 5hrs 19 mins.. She was in effect a mini MTB, designer Peter du Cane had been empowered by Dick Wilkins to build a boat to keep the trophy for 1^st overall in Britain, which she did but was consequently outlawed when the engine size was capped at 1000hp for 1963 !

The 1962 race showed the world that offshore racing was here to stay…The rules were rejigged as mentioned to outlaw the high power, it saw the beginning of Sonny Levi’s career as a forward looking designer and introduced competitors to American V8’s which were to become dominant as a power source, that even small craft could finish in the top 3 ..YOYO 2 at 25ft with 200 hp finished third behind Blue Moppie and both were from the Bertram Yacht company..

British builders and designers were playing catchup. The Ladies were now racing, last year’s winner THUNDERBOLT was crewed by Pamela Campbell and Lettice Curtis. Lady Vi Aitken drove her own boat Ultra Violet. It also had 2 sinkings Connie 2 with Peter and Jane hicks sank as did Alphabet….and a catamaran, Doug Norvill’s Prout finished 15^th and last and despite their prowess Stateside in the Miami Nassau plus other US races, the Bertram 31’s had failed to conquer the English Channel..

But a change was coming Italy now had its own offshore spectacular the 198 mile Viareggio-Bastia -Viareggio…

A certain Mr Clive Curtis won the inaugural London Calais London Class 3 race.

and the fleets kept growing…

FOOTNOTE:- Tramontana was sold to Gianni Agnelli and went to Italy, she was later sold to the Italian navy then subsequently to Italian owners…she ended her days on a beach near Anzio where unloved and the subject of a family feud over a will slowly rotted away despite attempts to save her..

1963               The Italians strike back

By 1963 the race commonly known now as the Cowes Torquay had established itself as the world’s toughest race, with even the Americans stating that your not a champion if you have not raced at Cowes !

The 1961 race had an Italian entry from a certain Renato “Sonny” Levi…his boat “A’Speranziella” was rebuilt after that race , returned in 1962 and was now back again after further rebuilds and a different cabin top..she was now sporting 2x 400hp Dearborn Interceptors, Ford latest V8 powerpack.

On the 7^th of September a fleet of 50 craft with an estimated total of 22,000hp shot across the RYS start line at 10am, they headed down to the Needles for a circuit of the island before heading off to Torquay a total of 192 nautical miles..

The boat builders who provided the craft for this vast fleet were very similar to the 62 race. The predominant builders were

Bertram

Fairey Marine

Bruce Campbell

Along with new craft from

R & W Clark

Port Hamble

Halmatic

Tod ………..and aluminium craft from

Freezer

Pochin’s had a new craft for Max Aitken, the Uffa Fox designed Black Maria, a 43 foot hydroplane powered by 2 Rolls Royce engines

And after last years win Dick Wilkins was back with a new Vosper built Tramontana 2 powered by 4 E Type Jaguar engines totalling 1000hp…and a beautiful 2 layer cabin wheelhouse…

BUT ….it was the dramatic change in engine horsepower which dominated this year’s race

Already mentioned were the Marinised Jaguars

Ford America had responded to development of race boats in the US by building the 400hp Interceptors powering no less than 6 entries along with Holman Moody who had Galaxy based 400hp monsters.

Mercruiser had upped their hp to 310

Rolls still had an interest with Max Aitkens new boat, they also powered Steve Macey’s Gay Gazelle and Ernie Freezer’s Impetus

Perkins were still in the race powering the Fairey boats

Crusaders still held on despite the Ford surge .

Volvo were still holding their own with their inboard outboard installations

But the outboard had faded with only 1 craft little Ianthe running Evinrudes.

Names of note this year included Olympic toboggan star Keith Schellenberg, Bill Shand Kydd ..wallpaper heir…Dennis Miller famous Yachtsman...Peter Twiss Jet Ace… Hilary Laing Olympic Skier…Lord Bigham soon to be Lucan and a certain Dr Emil Savundra.

On the first circuit craft dropped out due to mechanical problems and the overall speed was in the region of 35 to 40 knots and as the leaders passed Cowes again after the 70 MILE ROUND ISLAND LEG it was Lord Bingham’s White Migrant with twin Interceptor’s that crossed the line at 43 knots I, in 8^th place was Savundra’s Jackie S also powered by 4 jags as Tramontana 2 . the fleet now headed down to the Needles where all hell was to let loose!

Jackie S ….approaching the Needles first time her handling seemed to be irrational at times and quite suddenly she was headed directly at the lighthouse at 43knots ..she hit at 5 rose in the air then backed off , then running in company with Trident had a fracas with Don Shead’s mount but it was to get worse whilst racing inshore at speed towards Yarmouth 2^nd time she broached again and shot over a converted lifeboat which promptly sank beneath her.. the damage was done and she retired to Poole..

as a footnote it later emerged the the 4 jags were all handed the same way hence the uncontrollable power !

Even worse was the fate of leading boat White Migrant...half a mile past the Needles she suddenly stopped and slipped beneath the water…2 heavy batteries had come loose and smashed through the hull, Bruce Campbell and Bingham were rescued leaving Sopwith to take the lead in Thunderstreak, in 4^th was Levi..

Waiting in the wings and taking the havoc in his stride Sonny Levi was moving up the fleet as one by one they dropped out, next to go was Sopwith when a gearbox collapsed off Portland. The wind had now picked up and was running at force 4 to 5..Blue Moppie now strode into the lead across Lyme Bay hotly pursued by the heavier A’Speranziella .

The Italian being a heavier boat overtook Moppie in the run down to the Skerries buoy with Tramontana in hot pursuit of both. Rounding the Skerries A ‘Speranziella shot off towards Berry Head chased by Tramontana and Blue Moppie...but the win was Levi’s at an overall speed of 36 knots , the big Vosper followed her in but was promptly disqualified for missing a mark leaving Blue Moppie to scoop 2^nd and in 3rd place for the second time was Jim Wynne in the 25ft YOYO 2 with 220hp…

Those Bertram’s were highly reliable seaworthy boats and their time was coming..

FOOTNOTE :- A’Speranziella survives today at least the hull does and an assortment of panels do in a barn on the I.O.W…awaiting complete restoration by current owner Barry Sales ..she was restored before but fell into disuse until rescued by Sebastion Stapleton then sold on to Barry.

1964…..At last the USA but not the USA…

57 entries, 45 starters, 39 finishers, 43 knots and a navigation error !

 29^th August Cowes and the Cowes Torquay had attracted another class fleet with many new boats from the top builders in the US, Britain, Italy and Scandinavia…unfortunately Don Shead’s new Levi Alto Volante was a non stater but a soon to be famous American designer arrived with the Formula 27 Claudia 2 of Denis Miller…complying with the British cabin rules having on board none other than Don Aranow and Bahamian Jim Meyer.

The course was slightly shorter at 164 nautical miles and instead of the IOW circuit an eastward leg to Southsea and south towards Sandown then back up to Cowes and westward..

After missing the 63 race Dick Bertram was back in the new Bertram 31 race hull            Lucky Moppie and sister boat to the Gardner Bros Surfrider…they had entered a 25ft Bertram in 63 Scorpion and were now in the big league.

Winner of the most elegant was Steve Macey’s SPIRIT of ECSTACY but she failed to finish.

In line with last years race many boats reappeared but it was the new craft attracting the attention

BERTRAM         USA   31ft

FORMULA         USA     27 AND 23 ft

R& W CLARK     GB     35ft   Fred Cross design based on Flying boat floats

BOTVED             SWEDEN /USA

KEMP SHIPYARD GB     27ft

VIKING CHEVERTON     27ft

And a hydrofoil from

AVIOLANDA HOLLAND   23ft

DORSET LAKE   42ft

New names, established builders, old favourites but once again it was the motive powered which had moved forward again..

DAYTONA POWER       380hp

CUMMINS DIESEL       380hp

Along with

FORD INTERCEPTORS

MERCRUISERS

VOLVO I/O

CRUSADERS

JAGUARS

PERKINS and ROLLS ROYCE.

Of note was Ian Drivers Black Marlin powered by a KIEKHAEFER remember that name for future reference..

There were no outboard entrants !

The cabin rule was still applied and 80% of the entries were cruiser style an assortment of Faireys, Tod’s, Triana’s, Pacemakers and Bertram’s but the new low line craft and one off specials were the faster “greyhounds”..

The American style of cuddy top boats giving a lower surface of resistance seemed to slip under the rules but as long as they had “facilities” passed scrutiny…facilities meaning …galley, head, berths etc..

The weather and conditions meant speeds were high for the majority of the course...and the new kid on the block the Daytona engine was going to dominate the top 10.

As to the big name entrants

Lord Bingham was back… so was

Emile Savundra

Jim Wynne

Bill Shand Kydd

Keith Schellenberg

Lady Aitken

Giani Agnelli

Tommy Sopwith…. with Tramontana

Sonny Levi

Don Aranow

And Sir William Piggot-Brown in the 31ft Fairey Swordsman powered by 2 Ford Interceptors and sporting a cut down cabin top..

Of the 45 staters there was a record 39 finishers…The race leader and setting the pace for over 140 miles at an average speed of 43 knots was the American boat Lucky Moppie, Dick Bertram had been trying for the past 4 years to win this race but it had eluded him ..he may have won the Miami Nassau and most of the American series plus victories in Europe but not the boat breaking CT.. Of the top ten finishers 6 were American built racers. 3 Bertrams and 3 of Don Aranows Formula brand .. 7 were powered by American engines of which 4 were Sam Sara’s DAYTONAS..

Shadowing Lucky Moppie for most of the way was the Gardner’s in their twin helm Surfrider as mentioned before Lucky’s twin but whereas their helm position was more or less midships Bertram was right aft with his seat perched on the stern, for the softest ride…the race was set for an American victory at last as both boats hurtled around Berry Head and into Torbay in close quarters …seconds separating them ..off Paignton and the spectator fleet grew as they approached the finish line and despite frantic waving from the viewing fleet Lucky flew down the wrong side of Drumbeat and Torbay pier , the finish line...as Bertram frantically spun his boat around to cross the line it was too late Surfrider had powered through to take the win …he had been so close.

Third boat home and an indication of times to come was Claudia with Don Aranow. In the top 10 yet again was Jim Wynne in the Botved built Coronet, who to date had finished every race since 61..

Jackie S Savundra’s new Fred Cross designed Clark built boat powered by 2 400 horse power Fords fulfilled part of his dream to win but finished 5th at least.

Max Aitken in his new 38ft Bertram Vivacity finished 7^th, the 25ft Bertram Paper Tiger was twelfth.. 2 23ft Formula’s were 4th and 6^th Bill Shand Kydds Lucinda leading Lord Binghams Migrant with car race ace George Abercassis aboard.

Best All British Prize was won by the 3rd iteration of Anglesey, Cedric Pochin’s Foden powered 40 footer he had been trying for 4 years to finish..in 11^th..

So America had won but not in the way expected ..they like the calmer weather in 64 but speed and luck was on the side of GB albeit in an American craft.

BUT THEY SAY REVENGE IS SWEET…..Betram would be back…

FOOTNOTE:- Surfrider has survived after being raced in America and was recently found in a poor condition in a boat storage yard ..still with her dual control console...She has been purchased but it is unknown whether this is taking place..

1965 …DIESEL ANYONE ?..Mix with a damp dismal day and a force 5 looming on September the 4^th..

So the 5th running of the Cowes Torquay was to herald the start of 2 revolutions firstly diesel power and secondly the arrival of a Levi masterpiece that became a firm fan favourite, Surfury …the Gardner Bros futuristic needle nose Delta from the drawing board of Sonny Levi but more on her later...Dick Bertram returned with Brave Moppie a 38ft wooden prototype powered by 2 GM Detroit diesels totalling 1100 hp.

It was to be a race of attrition owing to the temperamental British weather and one that favoured the bigger heavier boats...although a couple of smaller craft survived to finish.

It was a case of the regular stalwarts returning some upgraded others revamped but yet again the American racers returned with new brands.

TOP OF THE LIST WAS

BERTRAM           USA     38FT   Prototype

THUNDERBIRD   USA    

FORMULA           USA

DONZI                 USA       28ft

TREMLETT           GB

HALMATIC           GB

VIKING CHEVERTON CORSAIRS GB

FAIREY MARINE GB

BOGHAMMER   SWEDEN

DRIVER MARINE GB

Surfury appeared at Cowes looking like something from the future, her extreme Delta line and unusual drive layout of the 2 Datona’s in tandem driving through a drop box to a single prop and Zip strut certainly set tongues wagging..but she set Levi on the course to become one of the most sought after, forward thinking, designer of the era.

The original Anglesey from 1961 which had sunk in Torquay in 61 post race returned with new topsides and called Sarah B run by John Renouf.. Anglesey 2 was also there as were Thunderstreak, Vivacity, Spirit of Ecstacy, Speranziella Secunda, YOYO2,

Tim Powell was now the owner of Tramontana 2.. American Bill Wishnick returned with Claudia 2 now renamed Broad Jumper. Jim Wynne turned up with Maritime sporting turned aluminium hull and 2 Daytonas. Don Shead had got Alto Volante working and new kid Chris Tremlett has his own build Mordicus with 2 Aston Martin engines.

Engines again were increasing in horsepower and size

DETROIT DIESELS USA   550 HP

DAYTONAS             USA   435 HP

FORD GALAXY       USA   475 HP

JAGUAR                 GB       254 HP

CUMMINS             USA     480 HP

ROLLS ROYCE         GB     380 HP

SEA UNICORN       GB       600 HP

HOLMAN MOODY   USA   350 HP

ASTON MARTIN     GB     325 HP

FODEN                     GB       420 HP

Along with Mercruiser, Volvo, Perkins, Parsons, Chrysler ..

And a certain KIEKHAEFER ….and outboards returned with the Johnson brand..

The Designers were basically now the well established group of Walt Walters, Sonny Levi, Ray Hunt ..plus Uffa Fox, Fred Cross, Chris Tremlett and a certain TT Boat Designs..

Builder / Racer Merrick Lewis had his race winning mount THUNDERBIRD with twin 400hp Fords.

The race followed last year’s route but distance was up to 172 nautical miles and true to form the protagonists from the previous year pulled out in front of the howling fleet Surfury and Brave Moppie duelling for the lead hotly pursued by Maritime, Blue Moppie,   Thunderbird and Thunderfish .

Maritime suddenly stopped with a cracked block, Thunderstreak lost a shaft…as the leaders shot back past the 1000’s of spectators lining the promenade from Cowes to Egypt point and beyond it was Surfury leading Moppie at an incredible average 47mph, chased by Thunderbird, Thunderfish, Tramontana and Broad Jumper. Jackie S was eating spark plugs and eventually bent a push rod. By St Albans head Moppie was leading Surfury with Thunderbird 3^rd..the speed was taking its toll and many were pulling out with various mechanical problems. Bill Shand Kydd had smashed his bow rail which was hanging off the new Donzi…he made a detour to Hamble then rejoined in 35^th position and started hauling back through tail enders as the leaders passed Portland 54 miles ahead !...

It was here that Surfury suddenly stopped , turned around and motored slowly back towards Cowes, Ivor Verlander found the source of the expensive Daytona noise “ a loose nut on a rocker arm” rapidly sorted she wasted no time in playing catchup and was soon in 3^rd place behind Thunderbird.

As the leaders started their crossing of Lyme Bay the sea was being whipped up by the oncoming Force 5 Brave’s speed dropped to 39mph.. Thunderbird 9 mins astern was being caught by the sleek Levi now 8 mins behind the leader but unable to run at full speed due to the nut problem and now a fuel tank situation..

At 2.40 Brave Moppie rounded the Skerries Thunderbird hot on her heels…Tramontana was now in third place but split her topside when a heat exchanger smashed its way out to freedom leaving a 16ft gash ..Surfury had dropped to 4^th...Just as the leaders rounded the Skerries Shand Kydd was now up to 17^th.

As the white balls of spray approached Berry Head you could not see who was leading, it was Brave Moppie that rounded the head into Torbay. As the leader shot by Brixham hot on her heels was Thunderbird, the speeds were now touching 60mph ,Moppie suddenly banked and completed a full circle the crowds remembering last years mistake watched in awe as she headed towards the Livermead mark Thunderbird was now seconds behind .

The helicopters overhead drowning out the roar of the crowds and diesel’s, Bertram shot across the line, THE BANG OF THE FINISH CANNON ROARED ACROSS THE BAY !, he had done it…Thunderbirds roaring Daytona’s announced her arrival in second...farther back the monster Tramontana and Surfury were running neck and by Brixham Surfury threw caution to the wind and opened her throttles edging out the Vosper finishing 1 min ahead and claimed 3^rd.

America had won the Cowes Torquay at last in a race full of attrition….

And Bill Shand Kydd in Lucy 2 ? they had fought their way back to 8^th but had had outside assistance to remove the smashed bowrails..it was deemed that due to such an heroic effort they would retain that placing !

27 entrants eventually finished form the 50 starters and Dick Bertram had made good on his 64 fiasco.

Footnote:- Brave Moppie continued racing in 1966 but in the Sam Griffith Memorial race met her demise when her heavy engines cried enough and smashed through the hull in a particularly rough race…she sank in 5 mins into 90metres of Gulf water.

Footnote 2 :- Sunday...They race back to COWES… Merrick Lewis took his revenge on Bertram travelling the 100miles at just under 50mph 3^rd was Sonny Levi…Surfury had taken the lead running close to 60mph but the gremlins hit again and she retired.

 1966 …Could it get any rougher ? and the US win again..but in a British built boat.