Bertram 31 Competition, THUNDERSTREAK

Broker’s Comments

And now for something truly extraordinary and unique. It is a great privilege to be involved in the story of a legend. Designed in the USA in 1957 by the celebrated Ray Hunt, dubbed the “father of the deep-vee hull”, this Bertram range of 25ft-31ft GRP boats were immediate best sellers and became the must-have race hulls in the early 1960s. THUNDERSTREAK was acquired in 1963 by the legendary Tommy Sopwith and possesses probably the longest history of competing in offshore racing in the UK than any other vessel – and, even today, having just won, in August 2024, its third consecutive Class championship. That this amazing race boat is equally a completely usable fast open dayboat makes her even more interesting. She has won consecutive UK National Championships, and her team have walked away with almost every trophy for which she is eligible over the past five years.

As with all boats – there is a back story to her ownership – but this very special machine has a (literally) unrivalled past.

The present owner was just 13 in 1963 when he witnessed Tommy Sopwith thundering past the stern of his father’s motorboat off Gurnard, leading that year’s Daily Express Cowes-Torquay powerboat race. It raced throughout the early 1960s and disappeared in the mid-1970s for over 30 years.

THUNDERSTREAK was eventually re-discovered in 2013/14, abandoned in an East London marina employed as a houseboat. After partial restoration by the previous owner who raced with mixed results, the present owner restored and re-engineered her in 2018/19 to compete among the historic racers in Class 4/Class 3E.

Now this winning rig is up for sale and represents a remarkably docile and stable entry into the world of offshore powerboat racing – or provide a new enthusiast with the fastest, best-recognised “picnic boat” either side of the English Channel. With the ability to touch 70mph, Alderney/Cherbourg are approx. 1 hour away.

By separate agreement* – Nicky Grist approved race-helmets (3) with built-in intercom; 3 x Approved Grabner racing lifejackets; Sets of flame-proof race overalls (3).

Note: Name to be retained by vendor.

The Ben Wood THUNDERSTREAK Documentary ‘Wreck to Racer’

https://vimeo.com/islandimages/review/907982374/14647c4146

THUNDERSTREAK – The Story Unfolds

https://www.berthoninternational.com/publications/thunderstreak-the-story-unfolds.pdf

Owner’s Comments

Considerable love, smart engineering, thought and attention to detail have gone into recreating Tommy Sopwith’s 1963 Bertram race-boat with the singular philosophy of creating reliability. This has paid off handsomely as she is tough, fast, surprisingly comfortable, and versatile.

First raced by us in 2020, we were undefeated in that Covid year. 2021 saw THUNDERSTREAK as runners-up in the UK National Championship for Class 4 (Historic). UK National Champions Class 3E in 2022 + 2023; and have now just secured the triple for 2024!

While fast (we have seen just over 70mph), she is hugely stable at top speeds due to her wide beam and utterly reliable with standard Mercruiser petrol engines and drives. Everyone who sees her is amazed at her condition: everyone who hears her (strangely) enjoys the beat of her muscular V8 petrol engines. THUNDERSTREAK is also highly manoeuvrable in tight marinas and boasts a large cockpit with three racing bolster seats plus 3 x standing positions behind each.

Her engines and drivetrain are deliberately “standard” and thus under-stressed and her hull strong. All transmission liquids are faithfully replaced after each race; and engines + drives fully serviced. She has a full-time Team Skipper whose watchword is “reliability”: under his care, she finished every race she started – and that is why she is a champion.

Now is the time to pass the torch held for this unique race-boat and seek a new enthusiast to enjoy the admiration and respect THUNDERSTREAK engenders – wherever she goes or moors.