I’ve just got back from North Wales where the weather was not like Bristol last week. Sports climbing and drinking cider in the sun too wind, snow and rain all while being out at sea. I was in north Wales doing a power boat level 2 course, run by Outward Bound. I’ve not really driven a powerboat much and was really looking forward to learning a new skill. The weather was crap and snow sat on the mountains around as we powered through the water in beginner mode getting things wrong and trying to look cool. By the mid point of the second day we took the 4.5 liter Jet boat out for a play in the waves and wow wow. 360 bhp bashing our way through, over and sometimes under the waves. My respect level for anyone who has done any sailing on big seas has jumped up and i take my hat off to anyone who has done this solo sailing stuff esp around the world or Atlantic etc the waves out there must be terrifying and thought of going in and not being able to get back aboard would at the front of my mind. I am still a beginner though and i know that beginners fear falling when starting climbing and maybe its the same thing, i don’t know. Either way……….hats off. Power boats. Yes so bouncing through the waves, great fun, waves hitting your face. I couldn’t see and then it was my turn to take the helm and to blast into the unknown, wicked, we were all pumped up after this wearing the big smiles. We had all the technical stuff, slow speed drills and man over board drills that we did in the jet boat and some in a lesser vessel. The 3 of us passed the course but only just. We had an extra test for the tidal endorsement that we were doing and we all found it hard so read up anyone who is doing this in the future!! Now i am back in Bristol writing this and happy in the knowledge that i am a PB2 holder. I big thanks to J our instructor from Outward Bound.
Power Boating
