Ken Warby to star at Sydney Show

The Sydney International Boat Show returns to the Sydney Convention Centre and Cockle Bay from the August 2 to 6, and this year the show welcomes the on-water speed World Record holder, Ken Warby.

Attempting to break his father’s record, David Warby and the Spirit of Australia II will be on display. Ken has designed Spirit of Australia II to be almost 50 per cent more powerful than his original 1978 world record breaker.

“I set the current World Water Speed Record of 511km/h in 1978,” Ken Warby said. “Despite two unsuccessful official challenges, along with many challengers claiming they will build a boat to beat my record. To date, no one has.”

Now 40 years later Ken again challenges the Outright Unlimited World Water Speed Record, with his son David in the pilot’s seat. Ken Warby is the only man in history to design, build and drive a boat to an Outright Unlimited World Water Speed Record.

Visitors to the show will be able to meet Ken and David and take a close look at the Spirit of Australia II, which is powered by a massive Rolls Royce Orpheus 803 ex-Italian Air Force jet engine, previously used to give flight to a Fiat Gina G-91 jet fighter. The vessel is as much a rocket as it is a boat.

David Warby said he’s looking forward to talking with visitors about the boat and the test runs they’ve taken so far. “We take it step by step. Sometimes the elements are against us, sometimes we discover efficiencies we can still make to the boat. It’s now a game of inches, but we’ll get there,” David Warby said.

For the record attempt, the Spirit of Australia II must make two runs travelling at an average speed greater than 511km/h.

The Spirit of Australia II is just one of the more than 800 boats on display inside the boat show, visited every year by more than 60,000 people. Another 200 on-water vessels will be berthed at nearby Cockle Bay, also part of the show.

Fishing master-classes, historic boats, kids bumper boat rides, the Australia International Dive Expo, and on water equipment demonstrations are just a few of the many activities to be seen, all included for the entry price. The show will be open each day from 10.00am until 7.00pm.