Legendary Power

It was a clear, calm October morning on Lake Iseo in Italy in 1953. Soon, the glassy water on the fourth-largest lake in Lombardy would transform into a speedway for the fastest waterborne vessels in the world. For Achille Castoldi, this morning was one of great anticipation and uncertainty that was three years in the making. As he sat in the cockpit of his 800-kilogram (1,763-pound) hydroplane, he had no idea what was in store. He only hoped the Arno XI and its 350-hp Ferrari Formula One engine would be fast—really fast.

Hydroplane race boats arrived in Europe from the Americas in the early 20th century. Originally designed with a hull step located amidships, the boats skimmed over the water, offering superior speed to the original speedboats that plowed through the water. These vessels could run in just about any conditions imaginable, from large rivers and lakes to salt water. However, they could be difficult to handle, described as riding much like a bucking horse.

In the late 1930s, the three-point