Keep up to date with what's going on here at BananaShark Racing.

The 2008 Round Britain Offshore Powerboat Race

John "Cookee" Cooke will be joining Gordon Compton in his Osprey Lynx 28' RIB for the Bangor to Oban leg of the race. Cookee, a past navigator in the Offshore Circuit racing series as well as 2005 British Formula One RIB champion and now holder of two speed records with his BananaShark race boat will join Gordon on leg 4 of the race as a reporter for the Sports Boat and RIB magazine, which is also carrying a four page preview of the race in its July issue out on the 1st of June.
Having raced against Gordon in the 2006 Red Sea Rib Rally in very difficult conditions, he is looking forward to joining Gordon in what will be a very competitive boat in the RB4 class.
Despite not being the fastest boat on paper, the Osprey is capable of keeping up a high average speed in rougher conditions, and with Gordon's experience of long distance journeys, I am sure he will be a boat to look out for when the fleet come around South East England and head for the finish line. You will be able to read about Cookee's experiences in Gordon's boat and a full review of the race in Sports Boat and RIB magazine.

updates from: http://roundbritainrace.co.uk/news.htm

In addition to making the Phantom 19 race boats for OCR, BananaShark is proud to announce that they have made the hull and deck for the Phantom 32 for Jon Fuller of Boatmad.com and Nick Gilley for the forthcoming race, we at the factory wish them all the best in their attempt at winning the RB4 class.

New British Record set at Coniston Speed Week 2007 ! ! !

BananaShark with the help of sponsors Protex.com, BLS Developments and Soar Mill Cove Hotel have done it again - this time they have set 2 National records in their Formula One RIB now rigged for European regulations.

Weighing in at just under the tonne with a 2.5 Offshore outboard giving 280 horsepower, the team went up to Speed Weeks new home of Lake Coniston for their first ever attempt at setting a water speed record.
The fact that it is 40 years since Donald Campbells accident on that lake was not lost on the team, but it turned out that despite poor conditions there were no crashes at all for the entire week.

The team had set itself a target - a 90mph record, and on the Monday the team managed a one way speed of over 89mph with the standard race prop so they knew it was possible. Tuesday dawned with not ideal condition and a deteriorating forecast, driver John "Cookee" Cooke knew that today would possibly be their last real chance of a record. The team decided to sign up for a second record in addition to the RIB record they were trying to set, which was the Immersed Propellor outboard monohull record which was already at over 86mph.

It was decided that "Cookee" would go out on his own for this one to save weight as a navigator wasn't necessary and when the time was announced it was just over 91.5 mph, a new record!

No time was wasted to refuel the boat for a run at the RIB record the team had set the day before, with Tom Ginn as the super lightweight navigator in the back "Cookee" set off down the measured Kilometre for the second time, and after the return trip set an average for the two runs of 90.15mph - another record.

Sadly when changing propellors to try and better the speeds it was discovered that a seal had blown out of the gearbox, and with limited time and a deteriorating forecast the team decided to retire back to Devon whilst still in one piece.
Maybe over 100mph next year for a gold star?


Watch the record attempt below..




Calendar
Check up on the race dates and promotional events throughout the season.

Press Release
A few words on how BananaShark Racing began.

Leisure Boat - The BananaShark 770 RIB.
Built on the same race-proven hull design as the BananaShark RaceBoat, it gives outstanding performance and illustrates a new way of thinking for leisure craft design.
Offering levels of comfort, space and flexibility that you've always dreamed of, coupled with race derived performance, it leads the way - whatever you want to do on the water.
Come to think of it - you could even race it if you want to!