To me reading that letter, it reads as we don't want boat to be run full stop. The way I see it from experience of the CN7 Car. We will say we want it run and then down the line, after we get it back say its too dangerous to run it. That's what exactly happened to the CN7 Car. Now for the Ruskin to keep saying they have a team to run it, but won't tell people so they can get behind them makes you think it's just words not reality. If Ruskin were ever going to run boat why put backstop in 2019 Contract, I don't get it. Anyone can say things, but they need to back it up with evidence to prove what they say is right.

If the boat is to be taken apart I would like a world wide boycott of the Ruskin Museum to take place by the fans of Donald Campbell and Bluebird K7

Ruskin won't do that as they think people would only come for original boat. However good idea. Problem is the fight is on over the parts who gets what and that could take years I fear. Most fans wanted to see it on the water not in museum. It could of done both if it wasn't for the greed of Ruskin. All Ruskin see is £££££££ if it is kept in the museum.

Sounds like to me that they will say bits that BBP put on or had to replace are gifted to them, so it will take years to agree. But as I said before nothing can happen until its been to court unless both parties agree to it. Easy way out of this happening would be for Ruskin to let BBP run the boat on Coniston, but from my own dealing with Tracey Hodgson they never wanted it running. Sad situation that has hurt the legacy of Bluebird K7. I have heard the lies from Ruskin claiming BBP are making money off the boat. Yes they have to to fund the rebuild, nothing is free materials and electricity cost money Ruskin. I have heard mug slinging from one side vs the other but to be fair to the BBP they have always been up front, that they wanted the boat to still run on water. The BBP were offering for free to run the boat and maintain it. But it would mean now and again not in museum and that was the sticking point for Ruskin. They said it would loose money if not in museum. 5. Under 5.3 it is envisaged that the Property will be placed on permanent display This line in Ruskin statement proves that they are not going to run boat again.

Re reading the above statement, something looks fishy. "We have requested that should Bluebird K7 be dismantled, a strict process should be adhered to and not until both sides have reached an agreement on how, and by whom this should be performed" "we do have a vast evidential portfolio supporting originality" Don't see how they can know what's new and what is original when they didn't help with rebuild. The electrics are new, but taking it out damages the boat so they are saying you can't do that. There saying taking out rivets will damage the boats. so can't do that. Basically they want to agree on how and who dismantles the boat, which is why I think they put that in to stop BBP doing that job and to get someone who will simply say can't dismantle it, as it would destroy structure of boat. Clever on their part. This is a sad situation brought on by Ruskin's refusal to let you run the boat for them.

Thanks the thing here us that this statement is not legal binding as it needs to go to court to make it happen unless BBP agree to it. Secondly who Knows what parts were new and what are not only BBP as they put them on the boat. Telling BBP that they can't take bits off if it damages the boat well the boat came out the water damaged. It got to this cause Ruskin didn't want boat run again and BBP do, so stand off. That's how the public see it. Its sad as I wanted to see it run on Coniston. How about a counter offer of running it on Coniston for 2 years and then in the museum for life. If Ruskin refuse that then it would make them look stupid to the public. Just an idea.

This is how the whole saga looks yo me Bitter legal row over Donald Campbell's Bluebird: Museum begins court action to secure return of record-breaking jet boat as diver who restored craft after recovering it from Coniston Water refuses to hand it over The real story is that the Campbells and the museum want it back to make money on it but never run it again on water. The BBP were given donations to get a working boat. They achieved this only to be told bye bye its ours now from the Ruskin. In 2013 BBP had to get a deal to ensure it ran on water so they could get parts to finish off the rebuild. They got that via emails. Once the boat was proven to run on water the Ruskin demanded it back saying they weren't allowed/ didn't know it was running on water. How strange as it was all over the press and Gina Campbell went to see it on Bute. The Bute exercise showed a few problems in the build with somethings needing strengthening. The BBP said we need to finalize the maintenance and running of the boat and were told by Ruskin that they would not be allowed to be involved. The BBP then said we had an agreement in 2013 to maintain and run the boat and Ruskin said it was never put before the trustees, even though the curator of the museum sent a reworked draft to BBP and told them that it was ok to proceed. Ruskin said 2013 agreement was invalid as it was done by someone with no power to do so. But it was done by the curator of the museum at the time, who has since retired. Now the sad part the BBP were accused of making money on the boat by selling items on a website. Come on how else could they fund a rebuild with no source of income. The Ruskin provided no help in funding nor did the Campbells, saying BBP promised to do it for nothing. It cost money to power tools and lighting and electric and materials, they don't grow on trees you know. The BBP have a duty of care to all who have donated, bought stuff off their website. These people did so on the assumption that the boat would be kept running. They had the engine lent to them for the rebuild so the boat could run, as long as it runs they have the engine. As soon as the boat was proven it could run the Ruskin were advised by the Campbells to get rid of the BBP. Ruskin said they offered the BBP 3 months a year to run boat, but they refused, they did not. When questioned what 3 months the Ruskin were very vague, when asked to put that into writing, confirming dates. There are now rumours that the Dead of Gift has been altered by the Ruskin and the Campbell's. When pressed as to how and if Ruskin will Run Bluebird K7 again, Ruskin have been very vague. The BBP have said if they want the boat back they can have it, in the condition it came out of the water or let them maintain it and run it. This is to ensure that people who helped fun the rebuild. At which no point did Ruskin say BBP were not going to run and maintain boat. The BBP said they would never of done a restoration if they thought they were not going to maintain and run the boat alongside the Ruskin looking after it. Ruskin have used this to say that BBP will break up Bluebird K7 no matter what, which is untrue. BBP will only break up Bluebird if they get a legal requirement to do so. Who's telling the truth in my opinion BBP Edited to take out the air intake problem which was told to me by someone on another forum., which I have been corrected on. All in all the BBP need to make a statement to the press, cause what Ruskin are doing is getting press and some public on their side. If Gina and some local Coniston residents could make it to Bute why didn't some Ruskin Trustees go and reason I think to try and use that against BBP.

If they had people then why not tell people their plans or is it a bluff just to get boat back which is what I think. Alright Tracey Hodgson get the Ruskin to detail their plans and list helpers here if you are not telling lies. From having no connection with both BBP or Ruskin I can make a good judgement. Basically it looks like Ruskin never wanted it running only restored to museum statue. Now that Bluebird K7 is operational they want to stop it going back on water by getting rid of the people that restored and know how to run and maintain the boat. That's what it looks like to me.

From what I've seen heard and read it is clear one thing Ruskin don't want to run the boat or they would work with BBP. All Ruskin are interested in is making money off Bluebird K7 not preserving the legacy of Bluebird K7 original designers and builders. Sad to say Ruskin see Bluebird K7 as £ instead of what a museum should a national treasure.

The BBP is for the true fans of Bluebird K7, I asked in an email why don't they Ruskin work with BBP and gave them ideas to start talking to BBP and they implied that the boat will just sit in the museum. At no time did they explain how they would run it . As I have said time and time again, the BBP's aim from what I learnt ,was to make Bluebird K7 operational and run it now and again on Coniston and other lakes, but Ruskin seem to not want to do that. What Ruskin and Gina and the rest of the Campbell family forget is people donated to help get a working operational boat that they can come and see. If I wanted to see a statue I can go to the lakeland motor museum to see a replica of Bluebird K7. People donated gave parts what for? I've been going on about Ruskin and BBP working together to keep Bluebird K7 on the water. Thats what true fans of Bluebird K7 want. Can't both parties put aside their differences and work together for the memory of Donald Campbell and his legacy.

Reread the timeline from Ruskin which acknowledges the Vicky email . At no point did the Ruskin say this email is not for use going forward. Why send it then say years later, its not valid? Most importantly the timeline has been added after the dates actually taken place. They say they offered you 3 months use a year but did not specify which 3 months of the year. Which clearly proves that this was just to get the boat back. My question to Ruskin is why not let BBP maintain the boat and run it but house it in a modified BB wing. Or is the intention to say you will run the boat and lie to everyone who donated to get the boat fully operational?

If there is a backup plan, why not share it cause there is not one from the sounds of it, just words on the Ruskins part to make you belive there is one. Why can't they let BBP run the boat for them, reason cause they don't want it run I fear.

Actually the original agreement was for the boat to be put in the museum and run by Bill Smith's team, if it could run, that was how it was billed in the beginning. Then as soon as the Ruskin saw that it was operational they changed their minds and wanted the boat permanently in the museum, then when opposition to this mustered they then back tracked and said they would run it once a year. No one thought it could be made to run again, not even me and I've built boats from wrecks. Yet the boat was restored to operational standards. The BBP only want to make sure it is kept running, the whole purpose of it being salvaged in the first place. The BBP in 2013 had to get another agreement to get parts to make the boat opertaional. They got that via emails, due to the time scale of getting the parts. My suggestion as a complete independent person and a fan of Bluebird K7 why not write a new agreement that puts it in the museum with modications to its saftey and let the BBP run it for the Ruskin. Or is the reason Ruskin won't accept this is that they really don't want it run again? This would solve both parties concerns, get the boat back to Coniston and keep it on the water. In my humble opinion this is the best and only solution if Ruskin really are going to run it on the water as they claim.

The question I would like to ask and millions of people too would If Ruskin as they say want to run Bluebird K7 then why not let Bluebird Project do that for them. They know the boat inside out. At no point has Ruskin detailed how they would run the boat, is it cause they don't want to run it. Just like what happened to the car CN7. Which was promised to run but a museum left it too long car froze up, not safe to do so. Will Ruskin answer the question or is it that they are telling people they will run it just to get the boat?

@Robert Reeves bluebird project do not own parts of the boat like the engine, they were lent it for keeping the boat running. Other people have said if bluebird project are not involved then they want their bits off the boat that they gave. I've had emails stating that Ruskin only want bluebird to be a statue. You have heard a one-sided account full of lies and mis understandings from Ruskin side. I'm nothing to do with bluebird project. I just want the boat kept whole. The original agreement covered the bare hull as it came out the water. No one knew what or if it could be made to run again. My understanding was that bluebird project needed another agreement in 2013 to secure vital parts to the boat like engine. From the emails they got it sounds like Ruskin agreed. Then as soon as they got bluebird running again on water Ruskin saw £ signs and said we want the boat with no bluebird project involvement. Why can't bluebird project run boat but house it in Ruskin?

Way to resolve this let BBP run the boat and house it in the Museum. But from the emails I had with Ruskin they seem to suggest that they don't want the boat run. From a legal point of view only 2 options remain brake boat up or let BBP run the boat. The whole point of the rebuild was to get the boat back running on the water not to have it as a statue in a museum. Ruskin are scared that bluebird might sink again and they loose everything. The Campbell family want the matter resolved, we all do really. How many donated to the project bought dvds and clothing etc loads. Yet if it wasn't for us the supporters the rebuild would not of had the money to make it happen. If the boat is not shared I think then we should all ask for our money back and who would pay for that to happen?

I say take everying off the boat that was put on the boat and give it back to all the people who gave their parts to the boat and then see what Ruskin do. They can't sue every person. These people gave parts to see a working boat not a museum statute. The rebuild has parts that are not governed by the agreement set out when the boat was taken out of the water. A judge would have to say give the boat back in the condition it came out of the water and Ruskin would say no due to the fact people don't want to see a wreck. For Ruskin its all about money, there'll make displaying the boat not preserving Donald Campbells legacy. From a fan of bluebird I would rather see a working model of the boat rather than a static boat in a museum. I can do that just by going to the lakeland motor museum. My thoughts were that it should be house in the museum and used on Coniston once a month and I suggested that to the Ruskin. But they said won't get a licence to run it on Coniston. Its a sad case one that can be fixed.