World Water Speed record challenger, Dave Warby, visited Coniston Water for the first time on 20 February where he will pilot Donald Campbell’s hydroplane during ‘Bluebird K7 – The Festival’ on 11 – 17 May.
Australian Dave Warby is the son of current World Water Speed record holder, Ken Warby MBE. He is challenging his father’s World Water Speed record of 317.59mph in his hydroplane, Spirit of Australia II. Dave, who is visiting the UK for the first time in his life, saw Bluebird K7 at St Athan where it is being prepared for the runs on Coniston Water in May. He then travelled to Coniston to see where Donald took many of his records.
Dave said: “This week has been an emotional roller coaster, visiting the UK for the first time, seeing and touching Bluebird which I idolised as a child, and then coming to Coniston where it all happened.”
Dave Warby was accompanied by his partner Lesa Wilkins and Water Speed Record team member Peter Jarrett.
Dave added: “To my father, Donald Campbell was a real hero. It was his quest to break the World Water Speed Record that inspired my father and then me. As a child I spent hours with a Jetex model of Bluebird K7 and then as I got older worked with my father on building his record-breaking hydroplane which we built in the yard at the back of our house.”
As a child, Dave grew up in a world where he heard names such as Donald Campbell, Malcolm Campbell, Lee Taylor, Sir Henry Segrave, John Cobb and what they stood for.
Jeff Carroll, Chair of the Coniston Institute & Ruskin Museum, said: “It’s great that Dave and some of his team have been able to come over and familiarise himself with Bluebird K7. We are really looking forward to Bluebird K7 -The Festival and of course the three concerts which will be a real trip down memory lane.”
Tracy Hodgson, Director of the Ruskin Museum said: “It is an honour to have Dave, Lesa and Pete come to Coniston and we look forward to Dave piloting Bluebird K7 in May. Dave and his team are the obvious choice to pilot K7, and we couldn’t be happier he is here.”
Between 1955 and 1964 Donald Campbell broke the outright World Water Speed Record on seven separate occasions in Bluebird K7. Tragically he crashed and was killed while piloting K7 on 4 January 1967 in an attempt to beat his own World Water Speed record of 276.33mph.
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Donald Campbell’s first World Water Speed Record on Coniston Water, which took place on 19 September 1956, where he reached a speed of 225.63mph.
‘Bluebird K7 – The Festival’ will see the hydroplane running each day as well as Blue Bird K3, subject to weather conditions. Blue Bird K3 is a hydroplane powerboat commissioned in 1937 by Sir Malcolm Campbell, Donald Campbell’s father, to rival the Americans’ efforts in the fight for the World Water Speed record.
On 15 – 17 May legendary bands and tribute groups will celebrate Donald Campbell and Bluebird K7 in a series of concerts. Rock legend Suzi Quatro will be the headline act on Friday supported by FABBAGIRLS. On Saturday The Bootleg Beatles will headline, supported by The Counterfeit Stones. And on Sunday the headline act will be 10CC supported by SWEET.
