AS Coniston Water stirs in anticipation of this month's World Record Week, a Kendal woman is making her own preparations to get her name in the record books.

As the annual boating extravaganza moves away from the shores of Windermere for the first time in the event's history because of the 10mph limit, 24-year-old Helen Loney will be clambering aboard the World Electric Waterspeed Record-holding vessel, An Stradag (Gaelic for The Spark').

The boat, which made its way into the record books with 70-year-old Fiona Countess of Arran back in 1989, has had a complete refit since Penrith businessman Henry Engelen snapped it up last year.

With brand new motors, double the horse-power and some of the original team behind the scenes, the new lady at the helm is ready to challenge the record and set some dizzy new speeds.

Mrs Loney, of The Oaks, and formerly of Bowness, is hoping to follow on from her success in power-boat racing and beat the electric water speed set by an American team.

"The official record was set by Fiona Countess of Arran, but since then the speed has, unofficially, been beaten by a team from America who made 70.6mph. During Records Week we're hoping to take that title back again," said Mrs Loney, who has been racing power boats at Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club for three years.

"The team are hoping to get between 75-80mph and we have done some initial testing and all seems well. I am more used to racing a mono hull though which is very different from the build of the An Stradag so it is going to be quite a different feeling for me."

After practising on Chase Water, near Birmingham, Mrs Loney and her team including the boat's orginial designer, Lorne Campbell will attempt the record during Speed Record Week which runs between October 31 and November 4.

It is the first time the annual October event is taking place on Coniston Water the setting for a number of Donald Campbell's world records following the introduction of Windermere's contro- versial speed limit.