As we all know, open coastal waters in Britain tend to be largely free of speed limits – and that is of course a great thing for those of us who tend to feel constrained by red tape on dry land. However, as an ongoing trial has recently reminded us, freedom to enjoy speed is not freedom to abandon common sense...

Powerboat speed should be used intelligently says Alex Smith.

Powerboat speed should be used intelligently says Alex Smith.



Basically, in October 2010 two 17-year old sailors were in command of a pair of RIBs that collided during a night passage, leaving an 11-year old girl with brain damage. According to reports, one of the women was urged to “go faster” by her young passengers and consented – weaving and wake jumping before colliding with the other boat.

These two women were by no means novices. On the contrary, despite their tender years, they had already represented Britain at sailing – and while they deny speeding and operating without a proper lookout, they were apparently unqualified to drive the boats at night.

Now I’m certainly not going to comment on this particular episode but it does make a couple of points worth taking on board. Firstly, don’t mess with another man’s wake; secondly, get qualified for the kind of boating you plan to do; and thirdly, think about whether speed is actually of any use...

Plainly, some extra pace can be productive for elevating the hull, increasing efficiency and smoothing your ride over the swells - but in terms of your enjoyment of a day out, what does nailing the throttle really add, other than bad hair, a stressed engine and a swollen fuel bill?

You get the same sea air and scenery whether you drive at 20 knots or 40, so without wishing to sound too much like your Mum, if there are boats in close proximity watch your speed; if there are passengers on board who are inexperienced or unprepared watch your speed; if it’s dark or rough or you are unsure of the waters watch your speed; and if you have personal doubts of any kind, watch your speed. Enough said.

Written by: Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a journalist, copywriter and magazine editor with a long history in boating and a happy addiction to the water. He’s worked on boats, lived on boats, bought boats, sold boats and – when he’s not actually on board a boat – he can generally be found in his Folkestone office, tapping away at the computer and gazing out to sea.