the category of powerboating’s great characters.

The man now synonymous with an eye-patch he once described as his ‘Ferrari’ was part of a highly successful Round Britain Race in 2008, 24 years after his original success. Five top finishes came the team’s way overall, including three wins in consecutive legs.

Williams-Hawkes was a key member of the Wettpunkt.com trio that took part and so nearly tasted success in the 2009 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes, a ruptured fuel tank is what it took to deny them, and only 1.5 miles from the finish line, proving that the winning habit dies hard.

He spells fun, ‘W-I-N’, and has total respect for the talents of every member of the Wettpunkt.com team: “Of the three pilots, the throttleman is possibly the most important crew member as he or she has to make the boat travel as fast as possible whilst reading the sea ahead.

“Anyone can make a boat go but only very special people can make them dance across the water, and they are the ones who win races.”