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Home Page for Tethered Hydroplane Racing
REGATTA DATES 2010
This seasons bridle colour is Yellow and Black. Reminder all bridle and cable ends must be soldered.
From 2009 Please note- All boats, including airscrew classes, must be fitted with an effective silencer.
| Jan | Click on highlighted links for reports, photos, results | July | |
| 22-24 | M E Exhibition Alexandra Palace. Hydroplane Club stand | 18 | Kingsbury Water Park, Tamworth |
| March | 25 | Hull, East Park 12o'clock start | |
| 14 | Hydroplane Club AGM- Bletchley Park 11am start Venue TBC | August | |
| April | 8 | Kingsbury Water Park | |
| 18 | Hull, East Park. 12o'clock start | 15 | Althorne Lake, Essex |
| 18 | Althorne Lake Essex *See note below for all Althorne meetings | 28 | St. Albans |
| 25 | VMSC Victoria Park | 30 | International St. Albans |
| May | Sept. | ||
| 1/2 | Chatellerault. France | 11/12 | Rowden Lakes, Midland Area Championships 2 days |
| 9 | Hull, East Park 12o'clock start | 19 | VMSC Victoria Park |
| 23 | Althorne Lake, Essex | 26 | Kingsbury Water Park |
| June | October | ||
| 6 | VMSC Victoria Park | 3 | Hull, East Park 12o'clock start |
| 13 | Kingsbury Water Park, Tamworth | 10 | Althorne Lake, Essex |
| 20 | Hull, East Park, Northern Area Champs | 24 | Hydroplane Section Conference, Venue TBA |
| 27 | Althorne Lake, Essex. Southern Area Championships |
*With regards to the Althorne venue, the strength and direction of
the wind plays a big part in whether we are able
to hold the regatta, please
check with one of the following members before setting out.
Norman Lara, Tel mobile 07956 423410
Terry Everitt, Tel 01707 873825
What, Who and Where
What is tethered hydroplane racing
Modern tethered hydroplane racing offers competitors a variety of classes and options with which to pit their skills against the clock. The tethered hydroplane is a purpose built model, designed expressly for high speed on water using either an immersed propeller or airscrew. Boats are connected via a pair of wire bridles and a line of set length to a rotating pylon. This will give a circular lap of known length, usually 100 yards or 100 metres. There is no steering or any other means of control. The boat, be it a flash steamer, novice or vintage, powered by a large capacity home-built engine, a high performance commercial two-stroke, or even an electric motor is connected to the line and the engine started. When satisfied that the engine is producing maximum power, the competitor launches the boat off on its run, aided by a rubber bungee. The timed laps are signalled by the competitor when happy that the boat is at its fastest. The elapsed time for the required number of laps is translated into speed and the head scratching starts over adjustments needed to achieve an even faster run next time. This is the quest that has continued to challenge participants in this fascinating sport of tethered hydroplane racing for over 100 years.
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Terry Everitt assisted by brother Colin preparing for a run, starting the engine, launching and signalling for the start of the timed laps |
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Information Sources
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Tethered Hydroplane Contacts |
Current Classes
& Records NAVIGA & National Classes Waterscrew & Airscrew |
Hydroplane Related Links Companies, organisations and individuals providing items and services |
Racing Related Articles
|
A3 Tethered Hydroplane Performance and Building information Roger James |
30cc Hydroplane Motors Building and developing 'A' Class engines Lionel Lawley |
Electric Power Building an electric powered hydro Martin Broad |
Venues
| Althorne Lake |
Essex |
Private lake situated to the south
side of the B1010 in Althorne village, 1/2 mile past Station Rd gps 51.652018,0.768957 |
| Kingsbury Water Park |
Staffordshire |
Country Park off Bodymoor Heath
Road Tamworth. Car Park charges apply gps 52.561078,-1.700027 SatNav B76 0DY |
| Hull East Park |
Humberside |
Public Park off A165 Holderness
Road, entrance on left after Summergangs Road gps 53.761334,-0.301137 SatNav HU9 3 |
| Victoria Park |
East London |
Public Park. Limited parking at St
Marks Gate off Cadogan Terrace, walk to lakeside. gps 51.539596,-0.027981 SatNav E9 5EG |
| Rowden Lake |
Leicestershire |
Private lake to the south of the
B0000 Fen Lane 1 mile north of Fenny Drayton gps 52.565186,-1.462662 SatNav CV13 6BP |
| St Albans |
Hertfordshire |
Verulamium Park. Park in Roman
Museum car park off A401, charges apply. Walk to lakeside gps 51.752181,-0.35491 SatNav AL3 4SW |
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MPBA affiliated clubs with active hydroplane members
| Model Hydroplane Club
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National
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Formed in the 1970s to promote the
building and racing of tethered hydroplanes countrywide. Contact: Arthur Wall 281, Fairfax Road. West Heath Birmingham. BR31 3RR email: modelhydroclub@btinternet.com |
| Retro Racing Club |
National |
The Retro Club was set up
in 1996, primarily to cater for the vintage interest and
incorporated the Rushden Club. Members running all classes of
hydros. Contact: Peter Hill. Ivy House. Main road. Great Carlton. Louth LN11 8JU |
| Alpha |
National |
Small group formed in the 1980s,
solely to run tethered hydroplanes nationally and internationally,
primarily NAVIGA classes. Contact: Stuart Robinson 13 Church Road. Stevington. Bedford. MK43 7QB |
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North East |
The club celebrates its centenary
in 2010 and while not being able to run hydroplanes at their lake
currently, still has a number of enthusiasts of long standing who
compete regularly. Contact: Tom Clement, 18 King George Road, Fawdon, Newcastle NE3 2QA |
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South Shields |
North East |
Home club of Bob Kirtley, one of
the world's leading exponents of high speed flash steam tethered
hydroplanes and the current outright record holder. Contact: Robert Kirtley 2, Datchet Road, Whitley Bay NE25 9UR |
| Hull |
North |
A small nucleus of members
specialising in airscrew boats who draw competitors from all over
the North and North East to their East Park Lake. Contact: Alan & Linda Spicer 9 Setting Road, Hull, East Yorks HU5 5TH |
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Kingsbury |
Midlands |
Formed in 1975 to
take advantage of the newly opened water park. Members from other local clubs
starting running hydroplanes in 1990. High profile
members, include Arthur Wall and John DeMott. Contact: John DeMott, Rowden Cottage, Fenny Drayton CV13 6BP |
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Welwyn |
Central |
Welwyn hosted the last world
championships to be held in this country, but have since lost
their lake for hydroplanes. Home Club of John Hyder, current 'A'
Class record holder Contact: Philip Radford, 21 Home Close, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts SG5 4DJ |
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St Albans |
Central |
St Albans MES has a long
history of involvement with tethered hydroplanes and their lake
hosts the two day International Regatta each August. Contact: Roger Lane 27, Marten Gate, St Albans, Herts AL4 9NB |
| Victoria
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London E
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Founded in 1904, The Victoria
model Steamboat Club is one of the oldest in the country. A wealth
of tethered hydroplane experience exists amongst the members,
including current outright hydroplane record holder, Norman Lara.
Contact: Keith Reynolds email: vmscvictoriapark@aol.com |
| Blackheath
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London SE
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This year sees the club entering
its 82nd year with straight running and tethered hydroplanes
remaining its primary interests. Current Chairman is Jim Free who
holds no less than 4 tethered hydroplane records in 2 airscrew
classes and two waterscrew classes. Contact: Phil Abbott email: Blackheath-mpbc@hotmail.co.uk |
| Cotswold |
Southwest |
One of the primary venues for many
years, run by a core group of highly enthusiastic engine builders
and competitors, now sadly without a local water. Contact: Mike Rose, 12 Wiltshire Avenue, North Yate, South Glos BS37 7UF |
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| Sue Free Novice boat | Three A Class flash steamers | Four 30cc A Class IC boats | Jim Free B1 airscrew |
Club contacts and web addresses correct as at 1/02/2010
Photos OTW and Sonia and Tony Collins
©CopyrightOTW2010