Shelley Jory-Leigh

British And World Record Powerboat Champion

Achievements & Awards

A journey of dedication, speed, and breaking boundaries in the world of powerboat racing and beyond.

1996

Awards 1996-2004

  • 1996: UKOBA Award of Merit Trophy – for the role as a team manager of my first powerboat team.
  • 1997: UKOBA Novice Navigator of the Year Award & UKOBA Invincible Shield for an outstanding effort.
  • 1998: UKOBA Navigator of the Year Award.
  • 2002: Lady Drivers Trophy – National Finals- Gibraltar.
  • 2003: Cowes – Outstanding Commitment to the Sport in my V24 Powerboat.
  • 2004: Guernsey Honda GrandPrix – The Drivers Award & Nominated and shortlisted for the Raymarine Yachtsman of the Year Award.

Achievements 1996-2004

  • 1997: 3rd RYA National Championships Touring Class & 3rd WD40 Powerboat Championships.
  • 1998: 1st UKOBA Championships – Touring Class & 2nd RYA National Championships – Touring Class.
  • 1999: 9th 2 Litre World Championships.
  • 2000: 3rd RYA National Championships – 1.3 Litre Class (my first all-girl team-“Babe Lite Relief, knick named the “Bad Girls”); 4th European Championships – 1.3 Litre Class; 2nd UKOBA Championships.
  • 2001: 3rd RYA National Championships – 1.3 Litre Class.
  • 2002: 3rd Bronze Medal – 2 Litre World Championships, Cape Town, South Africa. Only female competing; 1st – National Finals – Gibralter Grand Prix Rib F2 class; 4th RYA National Championships – Rib F2 Class.
  • 2003: First lady to ever win the British 3 Hour Endurance Race – Lake Windemere; V24 National Endurance Record Holder; 2nd RYA National Championships – V24; 2nd V24 British Championships (only female competing in whole series).
  • 2004: 3rd British Honda 225 Championships.

Results 2005-2017

  • 2005: British Honda Champion; 1st British Honda 225 Championships.
  • 2006: 2nd British Honda 225 Championships.
  • 2007: 3rd British Honda 225 Championships. Became a Hondamentalist and the face of Honda Powerboat Racing.
  • 2008: First woman to enter the Powerboat P1 International Evolution class, placing 5th overall.
  • 2009: Headed the first all-female team in Powerboat P1 International circuit, winning the Istanbul Grand Prix and finishing 4th overall.
  • 2010: A serious accident forced a stop halfway through the season while competing for the World Title.
  • 2011: Returned to competitive racing in Powerboat P1 Superstock series, finished 4th overall before taking a break to recover.
  • 2013: Granted the honour of being asked to become a younger brethren of Trinity House.
  • 2014: Broke a National Speed Record on Lake Coniston at 114mph, receiving the coveted K7 Gold Star and the "First Lady of the Lake" trophy.
  • 2016: Returned to racing full time, winning class and taking second overall in the Cowes Torquay Cowes Marathon race, making her the highest-ranked British female finisher ever. Won the "First Lady of the Lake" Trophy for the second year running after taking a World Record on Lake Coniston.
  • 2017: Returned to the Cowes Torquay Cowes with the Blastoff Team, coming second in class.

Change of Role & Future

  • 2018-2019: Took a team manager's role, managing her previous team Blastoff and coaching the new team A21 Pippa.
  • 2018: Asked to be a SIMRAD ambassador, becoming a headline sponsor.
  • 2020: Planned return to competitive racing was halted.