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Nick Ogden and the 54 Knots team nominated for the UIM Driver of the Year awards

Thunder Child II

54 Knots

See Thunder Child II in action

When Thunder Child II and the amazing crew, and team, are out attempting to set new records, whilst also raising funds for charitable causes, we try to document as much as possible for both posterity and for interest; there's nothing quite like seeing Thunder Child II, either first hand or via video archive on YouTube/ Vimeo, speeding across the waves in all her glory.
Simply magnificent.

Holding multiple UIM world records, Thunder Child II is continuing to set records and where possible, will link those record attempts to fund raising for various charities.

NEVER DONE BEFORE!

NEVER DONE BEFORE!

World Record Attempt (Part 1)

We Set A World Record

We Set A World Record

Follow the record-breaking journey.

Can we set a world record?

Can we set a world record?

Yes, we can! Setting a world Record travelling from Cork, Ireland to Jersey.

Full On-Board tour

Full On-Board tour

Courtesy of Super Yacht Captain

Moving Thunder Child II

Moving Thunder Child II

How does one move a Thunder Child II?

Building Thunder Child II

Building Thunder Child II

How Thunder Child II was designed and built.

Where are we?

54 knots

54 knots are the endurance team that operate Thunder Child II.

Holding multiple UIM world records, Thunder Child II is continuing to set records and where possible, will link those record attempts to fund raising for various charities.

Thunder Child II was designed and built by SafeHaven Marine and is unique. Her combination of wave piercing capabilities and high speed performance, which is achieved through aerofoils delivers a long range endurance vessel.

54 knots (+100kph) is the top speed of Thunder Child II, hence our name.

Our latest challenge

ThunderChild II and the 54Knots team attempted Seven UIM Offshore Class Long Distance World Record Endurance voyages covering 4000 nautical miles over 17 days and achieved 5 provisional UIM records in 14 days, a world record in itself.

Supported by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM.sport), the Federation Monegasque Motonautique, the Malta Powerboat Federation and the UK OCRDA and BPBA, endurance powerboat racing is a test of man and machine over significant long distances. The timing starts when the boat crosses the start line and finishes when they pass the finish line with no time allowances for fuel stops or mechanical or weather challenges.

The 54Knots team use their record attempts to collect vital data for work on developing seawater-based fuel cell systems. Sea water forced through a fuel cell delivers electricity, meaning that the oceans could be a carbon-zero source of marine fuel. In addition to this vital Research and Development the team also raise money for a variety of charities, which have included Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

THE BIG ONE... and the first time this has ever been attempted -
Races Five, Six and Seven will run concurrently

Races Five, Six and Seven

On the 20th June at 05:00am CET ThunderChild II with its crew of five will be leaving Malta and heading via Sardinia, Palma and to Gibraltar and then on to London via Sines, La Coruna and Guernsey. This multiple UIM world record attempt has never been tried before and the last 4 record attempts have been our build up sequences.

During this 2400 mile passage which is non-stop bar fuelling stops, the 54knots team is aiming to attempt three separate records, the first, the passage from Malta to Gibraltar, the overall journey from Malta to London, and finally the passage from Gibraltar to London.

The aim is to arrive in London on Friday 23rd June 2023, and if we achive this we will have attempted 7 UIM world records in just 14 days, a record in itself!

Race 5 COMPLETED in 38 hours, 39 minutes and 24 seconds

A DAB (Damn and Blast) moment then halfway across the Bay of Biscay as the starboard inner propellor sheared off at 42 knots… so our speed dropped to a crawl at 12 knots…

Race 6 and & were then abandoned, as we headed back to Jersey for repairs.

Now awaiting feedback from UIM on our 5 Record attempts

Race Four

Conditions permitting we will also try to set a fourth record circumnavigating Malta, Gozo and Comino. With a top speed of 54knots (101 kph) and a range of 750 nautical miles, over the combined 4000 mile distance, stopwatches will be ready! ThunderChild II will be moored at the Grand Excelsior Marina in Malta during its stay.

Complete.

Race time of
1 hr 16 mins, 16 secs

Race Three

After arriving in Malta, ThunderChild II will attempt to set a new record around Malta record, its third race, for its +50Ft class,

Complete.

Race time of
55 mins, 17 secs

Race Two

On the 12th June the team left Monaco for Malta for race two, and arrived in Malta on the 13th June.

Click here to view Transport Malta's 'Not_22_of_2023.pdf' directorate.

Complete.

Race time of
18 hrs, 52 mins (awaiting ratification)

Race One

Holders of multiple World Records, ThunderChild II arrived in Monaco on the 9th June and moored at the Yacht Club de Monaco. ThunderChild II left Monaco on the 9th June for race one to circumnavigate Corsica and Sardinia before returning to Monaco on the 10th June.

Complete.

Official recorded race time of
21 hrs, 42 mins, 2.99 secs

All the sectors are UIM Offshore Class Long Distance routes. ThunderChild II competes in the over 50ft category. More information can be found on uim.sport

Who we support

ThunderChild II and the 54Knots team are supporting a fundraising event this weekend at the Excelsior Hotel in Valletta, the capital of Malta, supporting the Community Chest Fund, see https://www.mccff.org.mt/

The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation supports individuals and entities to improve the health, quality of life and well being of people in their time of need.

ThunderChild II will be on display in the Marina and visitors will be able to donate to the charity in exchange for a chance to win a ride on ThunderChild II after its two UIM world record attempts on Monday 18th.

mccff

Our Challenges

Merchandise

Join the support team

Sign up and join our support team today and we will keep you up to speed with our trips and antics. You will also get unique access to our video outtakes first!

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The 54 knots team

The 54Knots team are:

Nick

Nick

UIM International Powerboat Driver Licence Holder

Team Principal

Ben

Ben

UIM International Powerboat Driver Licence Holder

Tristan

Tristan

UIM International Powerboat Driver Licence Holder

Max

Max

UIM International Powerboat Driver Licence Holder

Alex

Alex

UIM International Powerboat Crew Licence Holder

Tristan 2

Tristan 2

UIM International Powerboat Crew Licence Holder

Jo

Jo

Team Financial Controller

Ali

Ali

Team secretary and event co-ordinator

Fuel Cells

New Year New Challenges!

The 54 knots team is working with AMPS Ltd to explore, innovate and develop seawater based fuel cell technologies. On board Thunder Child II we have a cabin dedicated as a fuel cell laboratory where latest innovations and developments are tested. Saltwater Fuel cells produce electricity. Our mission is to generate enough power to charge the electric engine on our tender, replacing the existing petrol unit, using just salt water based fuel cells. The applications that spin from realising that objective are substantial. For more information visit amps.je

Merchandise

Get on Board

if we see you in port wearing Thunder Child II merchandise you will get an invite on board, and a gift of an exclusive signed photo of Thunder Child II

Get Thunder Child II merchandise now

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