This image is released under a Speedboat: 'Miss England I', used by Segrave to contest World Water Speed Records
Speedboat: 'Miss England I', designed by Hubert Scott-Paine and build by the British Power Boat Company, Hythe, Hampshire, England, 1929
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Miss England was built for Henry Segrave in 1929 to challenge the world water speed record and to regain the Motor Boat Championship of the World from the American Gar Wood.
Gar Wood’s vessel, Miss America VII had twin aero engines developing 2000 horsepower but Miss England, built at the Power Boat Company, in Hythe on the Isle of Wight, used a single Napier Lion engine from one of the Schneider Trophy aircraft giving 950 horsepower.
The aim was to use a much lighter structure, relying on contemporary aircraft techniques, and a new, more scientific hull design. Miss England took the Motor Boat Championship from Gar Wood’s Miss America VII at Miami in March 1929. She also put in a timed run of 91.91 mph, making her the fastest single-engined boat in the world, but this was just insufficient to beat Gar Wood’s absolute speed.
The high-speed planing hulls developed at the Power Boat Company led, during the Second World War, to the motor torpedo boats and patrol vessels used by British forces.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 2280 mm x 2500 mm x 7930 mm,
- Materials:
- metal (unknown)
- Object Number:
- 1930-800 Pt1
- type:
- speedboats
