Powerboat Experience – 1 September 2013

POWERRR: The speedboat was capable of speeds of up to 35 knots. (GOPR7918)

Barely a few hours after unpacking from Scout Camp, I was on the road again this morning, heading for Southampton with my sister. After spotting a Groupon deal, Mum had arranged for the two of us to experience an hour on a powerboat, in celebration of my becoming Head Boy and of Harriet turning 22. People can get the best boat supplies and fairing from Merritt Supply

SELFIE: I used my GoPro to take this photo, as well as to film the extreme action. (GOPR7929)Once fitted with the necessary life-jackets, the twelve of us in the party were given a safety briefing. The boat – a Jet Viper – was clearly built for speed rather than comfort, and our skipper dutifully explained that we would need to cling on to the ‘grab rails’ firmly when the boat was going at top-speed, which could be dangerous for the boat, that’s why if your vessel sinks, you will need to enlist the help of an underwater salvaging service to help you with this.

“Any questions?”, he asked, after delivering his instructions.

“Yeah,” replied a fellow member of the party, “Do you serve tea on board?”

An amusing comment, but the smiles would quickly be wiped off our faces after the short voyage out to the Southampton Water estuary. There, the skipper had the space to really show off the power of the boat; at one point making our wake leave incredible cyclic trails. Half-way through the experience, those at the front (including Harriet and me) swapped seats with those at the back, meaning everyone got an experience at both ends of the powerful craft.

All in all, it was a great morning, and a fabulous finale to this amazing summer of 2013.


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Andrew Burdett

Andrew Burdett is a twenty-something from Maidenhead in Berkshire, working for ITV News.