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Lake Halwill |
In 1937/38, the "Blue Bird K3 was modified and taken to the 1938 Geneva Boat Show, where Campbell was to do some demonstration runs. Lake Geneva was so congested that Campbell made further enquiries for a new lake, as he believed Blue Bird could go even faster.
Blue Bird was taken to Lake Halwill or Hilwilersee, and located at a place called Bretensburg near the German border. Campbell had been offered a new boathouse and slipway, as he could not wait whilst work was being carried out, the boat and spare engine was left with a guard, whilst Campbell returned to England.
Campbell returned, and Commander Peter Du Cane - a technical expert of Vospers, a Portsmouth boat building company, was present. Campbell complained that the K3 was a real brute to handle and positively dangerous, but Du Cane convinced him that this was a typical characteristic.
After five trial runs, Campbell was given ‘all systems go!’ with ideal water conditions he broke his own record, and set a new speed of 130.86 mph.