JAGUAR’S Vector Racing V20E electric speed boat has traversed the same lake that the world’s most prolific water speed record holder, Donald Campbell, broke most of his records – and died – with the EV boat nabbing a new world water speed record of 88.61 miles per hour (142.6 kilometres per hour) for a propeller-driven craft.

The Jag’s speed beat the previous best of 76.8mph (123.6km/h) set in 2008.

The Jaguar Vector Racing EV boat, developed by the car-maker and Williams Advanced Engineering, uses Formula E technology and is at the beginning of its campaign to set further world and national electric speed records.

It completed two runs to confirm the records on the Coniston Water surface in Cumbria in England’s Lake District.

The lake was the speed course used by Donald Campbell in 1967 and where his jet-powered boat, Bluebird K7, hydroplaned and somersaulted, killing him and leaving his body undiscovered until 2001.

Campbell hit 328mph (528km/h) just prior to his accident at Coniston as he tried to build on his previous record at Lake Dumbleyung in Western Australia where he hit 276.33mph (444.71km/h) on December 31, 1964.

Jaguar and UK-based Vector have been partners in boat racing, including offshore events. Jaguar also joined the Formula E street racing series in 2016 and then brought its EV skills to the water.

The new electric boat is based on a Formula 1 inshore powerboat which has been stripped and fitted with 320kg of batteries and two Yasa electric motors. It delivers 220kW.

The previous electric boat record was set on the same water by Helen Loney who reached 76.8mph (123.6km/h) piloting her electric hydroplane Firefly.

The previous day she also broke the British and world water speed record of 125.8mph (202.5km/h) in a conventionally-powered Formula One boat. She is now planning to break the 100mph (160km/h) record in Firefly.

By Neil Dowling