Ken Warby, the fastest man on water.
The world’s fastest man on water, Ken Warby, 83, has died in the United States after a short illness.
The holder of one of the world’s oldest speed records, achieved in a boat on a quaint Australian dam some four decades ago, has died age 84. Ken Warby first broke the record in 1977, but further tuning and pristine conditions allowed him to take the jet-powered Spirit of Australia to an incredible 511.11km/h (317.59mph) on the Blowering Dam, near Tumut in south-eastern NSW, on October 8, 1978.
His record has stood for 45 years and all those who have attempted to break it have died in their pursuit of that goal.
In setting that record, Warby became the first man to break the 300mph/500km/h barrier on water, and the first Australian to hold an unlimited speed record on land, water or air.
The world’s fastest man on water, Ken Warby, has died in the United States after a short illness.
Over the past decade, Warby has collaborated with his second son David, who was behind the boat Spirit of Australia 2. The group testing it is attempting to break Warby’s world record with improvements to hull design and safety. Incredibly, Warby never had seatbelts in his original boat. Spirit of Australia 2 is being tested on the Manning River at Taree and on Blowering Dam. Warby is survived by his wife Barbara and three sons.
