Out and About: Rachael Goes RIB Powerboating on The Thames

Not long ago, our esteemed colleague Rachael braved the Thames for spot of RIB powerboating action in London.

In case you’re unfamiliar with these contraptions, an RIB (rigid inflatable boat) is a lightweight, high-performance powerboat capable of operating at speeds between 40 and 70 knots (that’s about 45 – 80 mph) – so it’s pretty fast to say the least.

This particular RIB powerboating experience is part sightseeing cruise and part adrenaline-pumping action adventure – we could go on about it all day, but here’s a video instead…

And in a nutshell, here’s what Rachael had to say about her experience…

“Steve, our tour guide, was excellent and the whole thing was brilliant from start to finish. I  would definitely go RIB powerboating again.”

We also did a quick fire Q&A with her to find out more…

What was your favourite part of the experience?

I do like seeing the city from a different angle, but my favourite part has to be after you’ve done the tourist bit, when the boat speeds up and music blasts out from the speakers. It’s a real buzz.

Which landmark would you say looks best from The Thames?

The bridges are always great to get up close to, Tower Bridge in particular was very impressive from the vantage point of the Thames.

If you could choose someone famous to be your RIB powerboating skipper, who would it be and why?

Stephen Fry. Purely for the QI based facts that he could indulge us with!

Did you know? In total, there are more than 200 bridges, 6 ferry crossings, more than 20 tunnels and a cable car crossing on the River Thames.

If you want to enjoy more of our staff adventures, check out our blog’s Out and About section.

Have you been RIB powerboating? Tell us about your experience by leaving us a comment.

Images: RLD