5 DOUBLE FIRST FOR THUNDER STREAK
Thunderstreak (H400), the rebuilt Bertram 31 featured in MBY September 2020 – secured two class victories during the year’s first UKOPRA race weekend held in Poole Bay at the end of May. The boat was run by Team Royal Yacht Squadron – otherwise known as owner-driver Hugo Peel, navigator Johnny Raymond and throttles/trim James Gaggero.
The fleet of offshore race boats that took part enjoyed near-perfect conditions for the first and relatively short shake-down race on the Saturday, but had to cope with an ugly swell for the 80nm-plus second race the following day. Many entrants failed to finish on the latter day because of the conditions and related mechanical and electrical problems.
Whereas today’s offshore raceboats are capable of 90-120mph top speeds, Thunderstreak tops out at around 70mph – twice the original design speed, but her ability to maintain speeds of more than 65mph – even in rough conditions – speaks volumes about the quality of her original hull design. Few historic raceboats have such pedigree. Since her first Cowes-torquay outing back in 1963, and including several Round Britain marathons, she has been campaigned by several of the biggest names of yesteryear – racing driver Tommy Sopwith, PRE-WWII test pilot Jeffrey Quill, and eccentric Olympian Keith Schellenberg to name but three.
Her next outing with Hugo Peel and crew is likely to be the 60th anniversary Cowestorquay-cowes Race, which will be held over the August Bank Holiday.