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They Accused Us of Sabotaging Bluebird K7. Here's the Evidence.

TheBluebirdProject

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The Ruskin Museum recently published a statement suggesting that Bluebird K7 failed to operate during the 2026 Coniston event at least in part because of deeds carried out by a small, subversive group acting within the Bluebird Project and detailing what they claim to have discovered after the boat was returned in 2024.
In this video, we take that statement apart point by point.
This isn't a rant, a personal attack, or an argument. It's an autopsy.
We'll examine the claims made about missing parts, cut wires, compromised systems, structural concerns, modifications and the events leading up to Bluebird K7's disappointing performance on Coniston Water.
Using documents, photographs, engineering evidence, and first-hand knowledge gained during the 30 years of running the Bluebird Project, we'll separate fact from assertion and ask a simple question:
Does the evidence support the conclusions?
If you're interested in engineering, restoration, Bluebird K7, Donald Campbell, or simply finding out what really happened behind one of the most controversial chapters in Bluebird's recent history, this is the video for you.

00:00 Intro
01:33 The great Sharpie prank
02:38 Won't fit through the door
04:26 Bolt sabotage!
05:27 Major parts missing
06:59 K7 hawked about for £££
07:17 Clumsy floor destruction
08:41 Major remedial work
10:44 Dangerous bolts, cut wires and missing gauges
15:32 Structure compromised
18:01 Cherry picking talent - fail!
19:51 Email to the trustees
19:59 DAMAGE!
23:27 Can't run old machines
24:40 Risk avoidance
25:25 Identical engine - NOT!
29:12 Telling the truth
32:02 Outro - four years ago

#BluebirdK7 #DonaldCampbell #Coniston #EngineeringAutopsy #BluebirdProject #WaterSpeedRecord #Engineering #Restoration #History #Documentary

20 Comments

@darranweston9425 3 months ago

Typical lies from the Ruskin to cover up the fact that they f*cked up to save face.

@AlbyWilson-g2p 3 months ago

I remember how meticulous everyone was cleaning the hull of K7, It looked spotless but another bucket of clean water was asked for so they could carry on cleaning her, I asked why and the answer came back they didn't want K7 to smell dirty in the museum... I can confirm K7 was loved, no one would sabotage her from the BBP team

@AllenJones73 3 months ago

Well said Bill they need to be held to account and yes please get stuck into the timeline!

@Ben-Dixey 3 months ago

Brilliant dismantling of the statement, great watch 😃

@JF97MCR 3 months ago (edited)

GO ON BILL.
I was so excited when I saw this notification.

Bill, I stay away from comments. But as a young British man, I want to thank you for the inspiration you have given me. Aside from bluebird and the ownership and the drama, you have had a more positive impact on my life than Donald Campbell did.

That’s no disrespect to Donald, he’s a hero too. But your engineering and determination and leadership and will to chase a dream, it’s inspired me for years now.

I place you in the same category as men like Fred Dibnah. And that’s no easy category to enter.

I wish you nothing but the best Bill in all future endeavours and thank you for inspiring another generation of British hard workers and engineers. No matter what comes of bluebird, you’ve inspired young people for future generations and I believe that is far more valuable.

Best regards
Joe

@danielthomas1735 3 months ago

I've been waiting for this video, since seeing their "statement".

Seeing your videos and passion for the whole project, tells its own story.

I can guarantee that every single person who attended the festival would have wished that The Bluebird Project were still involved 👏🏻

@flon4602 3 months ago

Having seen you, seen what you achieved then spending the week at Coniston it’s quite obvious you are the expert. You have a passion, drive, professionalism that does not fit with the museums “ sabotage” story. Anyone who has engineering talent to build or restore a vehicle does not then sabotage it. Quite how you keep calm says even more about you as a person. For my money, Project Bluebird can hold their heads high- Quite what the museum are hoping to achieve from this statement is baffling and does not stand scrutiny. Keep going Son!

@jimreece7615 3 months ago

The Ruskin Museum is a pathetic circus run by clowns.

@PLAYINGAROUND 3 months ago (edited)

So the olive branch to get her running properly again as mentioned in a previous video has been snapped by the idiots at the Ruskin Museum. Before I visited K7 in the museum a few years back I was in two minds to actually go. I went, but now I wish I hadn't given them my money. I know one thing, I won't be visiting them again. The more that spills out of their traps, the more I think that the craft should have stayed at the bottom of Coniston Water. They way they've gone about it I'm surprised it hasn't. They be fools that need another bought of court visits for talking bull! A great effort by your team Bill, and I'm so angry at the museum for their antics.

@calvin1mac 3 months ago

I’ve been following this project for years and couldn’t wait to see the completed boat. Unfortunately, I’ll never get to see it now as I won’t line the museums pocket on the principle of what they have done to the team that spent the last 30 years lovingly restoring it. 100% behind you Bill.

@BigDuke6ixx 3 months ago

The Ruskin group are insecure.

@rayguy4760 3 months ago

Ahhhh,ha,ha,ha, well when you've butchered a historically correct rebuild it's always better to blame someone else, especially after the K7 Festival farce where they couldn't get it to even run for more than 30 seconds, totally unbelievable. Great video sir, keep up the great work.

@lachlangrant1588 3 months ago (edited)

I remember being aghast at the Sharpie prank. When it was explained that it was on a piece of protective transparent film, I breathed a sigh of relief! Seems that the museum trustees have got their noses out of joint because they didn't have the same level of success as the BBP did on Bute. They have little knowledge or understanding or how K7 works. If they did, K7's structure wouldn't have been altered, and they would know that the 101 is the wrong engine *as standard*. Their organisational skills are woeful - they carted K7 about for a whole year, before anything happened towards putting an engine in her. They were told repeatedly before they deleted their Twitter account that they would have to pull their finger out if they would make their May 2026 festival dates. Their reply was a mix of condescension, and arrogant nonchalance. Safety took a back seat when they realised that their self-imposed deadline for the festival wouldn't be met. They didn't leave enough time for the boat to be tested and adjustments made if necessary, nor enough time for their crews to be trained properly - dangerous stuff. Their resulting statement with it's allegations has only made them look worse. Instead of owning their failures and learning from them, they're trying to pin it on people that haven't touched K7 in over two years.

@DarrylMellor 3 months ago

Absolutely brilliant video as usual Bill. I hope the Ruskin Museum and the Cambell family are proud of themselves. If it wasn't for you and your team recovering Bluebird and Donald Cambells remains, we wouldn't even be having this conversation . The memory of Cambell and bluebird would have disappeared.
The problem is these people have no idea what it's like to invest many years into something like Bluebird. That's why they don't really care about it.

@jkski125 3 months ago

I was at the presentation on Friday that week, Don jumped to cut the discussion short about Bill. They sounded very defensive, and they wouldn’t have if they were right

@Robert-y8l9r 3 months ago

Everyone should boycotte Ruskin Museum and K7. The absolute neck on those jokers is beyond unbelievable. Had it not been for the Bluebird project, K7 and Campbell would still be at the bottom of Coniston Lake.
Rounded off bolts😅 gtfoh..Hardly rocket science to remove if she really had been 'sabotaged'
Bill, build your own Bluebird K7b. No one knows that boat better than you and your team. If i had the funds id sponser the whole thing myself

@jimmystevens788 3 months ago

Kin unbelievable that the guy and his team who literally risked his life to find,recover and return Donald Campbell to his family is being treated in this way, words fail me.

@MistressValkress 3 months ago

There is only ONE solution here!!!! GIVE K7 back to the original restoration team and NEVER let it be taken from them as they want to save this National Icon as an 'original' item! That is what 'preservation' IS!!!!! Ruskin Museum - 'TAKE NOTE!'

@biasbilt 3 months ago

Bill, great video, you’re obviously rattling them.
This is the diametrical opposite of the phrase ‘Don’t argue with idiots, they’ll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.’ In this case, the Ruskin Museum are arguing with someone who is intelligent, articulate and has the evidence to back up their argument (sorry to blow smoke…) which discredits them even further 🤦‍♂️.
The clip which stood out the most seeing K7 being washed with multiple buckets of soapy water before hoovering the water back out of the bilges- clearly a demonstration of the love and pride in what you’d all achieved

@JonWilliams-q5t 3 months ago

Thanks for this video from Canada. Having followed your informative videos from the early recovery days through all the work to rebuild k7 to the DC standard despite all the difficulties I have complete trust in your account and timeline and have no trust in the abilities of the Ruskin organization. I am very frustrated that many folk will only hear the falsehoods put out by them and your story has tho be distributed far and wide to the general population.
Thanks again for you skill and dedication and that of your many cohorts.