Apache 555 on YouTube
Apache Video
Follow the 2026 campaign as Apache 555 returns to competitive racing for the first time in decades.
Apache 555 on YouTube
Video
Follow the 2026 campaign on the Apache 555 YouTube channel, in partnership with Dan Lee Boatbuilding.
Can a 50-Year-Old Wooden Boat Still Race?
After 45 years away from competition, Apache 555 lines up against a fleet of modern race boats in the UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship. The episode follows the team through race day, from final preparations and launch to Apache’s first competitive outing in nearly half a century.
Why This World Champion Race Boat Is Slower Than It Should Be | Ep1 Hull Analysis
The technical rebuild begins in earnest. Testing reveals Apache 555 is running well below expected speeds, prompting a full hull analysis: 3D scanning against Don Shead’s original 1969 drawings, assessment of spray rails, surface condition and drag, and workshop work to restore the hull to its original geometry. The first in a full engineering series.
We Asked for Help… This Happened
The restoration begins. As the team strips back decades of paint and assesses the hull, a call goes out for help — and what follows is an extraordinary response. Former crew, long-time supporters, and the sons and grandsons of those who raced Apache 555 in her original days all come together, alongside a 3D hull scan checked against Don Shead’s original drawings.
The World Champion is BACK! Apache 555 Returns To The Water
A World Championship-winning wooden powerboat returns to the water after 30 years. Designed by Don Shead and built by Souter of Cowes, Apache 555 begins initial testing and sea trials as the team lays the groundwork to return her to competitive racing in the 2026 UKOPRA championship.
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