Ken Warby dies four decades after breaking record speed of 511km/h on water

Australian powerboating legend Ken Warby has died on the age of 83 after a brief battle with sickness.

Warby is finest remembered for being ‘the quickest man on water’ after reaching a world record speed in his boat Spirit of Australia – which he designed and in-built his yard – which set a world record speed of 463km/h in 1977.

He returned to Blowering Dam in southern New South Wales the next yr and recorded a speed of 511km/h. The boat had a fighter jet engine hooked up to it. 

That effort stays the Unlimited World Water Speed Record, and Warby stays the one particular person to ever design, construct and drive a ship to an infinite speed record.

In 1978, he was made an MBE for his service to powerboating and have become one of the primary 200 inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 

Powerboating legend Ken Warby has died on the age of 83, it has been confirmed

The Australian is finest identified for setting the world’s quickest speed on water

He and his son David have been within the course of of constructing Spirit of Australia II

Warby additionally raced automobiles, dragsters and vehicles on tracks in Australia and the United States. He was lately constructing a brand new boat – Spirit of Australia II – along with his son David. 

Most lately, he was constructing a brand new boat, Spirit of Australia II, alongside his son David.

‘Ken can be enormously missed by his household and Team Warby Motorsport,’ a consultant mentioned in an announcement.

‘His data and Australian sense of humour can by no means get replaced.’