More Boats

September 12, 2024

However this time a little different.

It was suggested that I ought to go and have a look at some powerboat racing on Oulton Broad in Suffolk (at least I think it is in Suffolk – when one travels along the Norfolk Broads it is a bit difficult to see where one crosses over the county boundary) Oulton Broad is about as far as the broads go to the south east or for the non-technical – the bottom right hand corner of the map.

However the power boat enthusiasts gather there almost each week during the summer season and, I am told some of them go to even more serious races elsewhere in the country later in the Autumn.

The power boats were much smaller than I expected they would be. They began arriving, with support crews into the preparation area. Most were towed behind cars or vans. And how they all gleamed in the late summer sunshine – real shiny affairs.

Launching was usually done by just a couple of people down a slipway in much the same way as I would launch my own dory.

However when they revved up their engines –“wow” – nothing like my dory! “powerful”

With engines coughing and spluttering they made their way round to the pits (all sounds very like the motor racing circuit doesn’t it)

The start of the event itself was delayed because of strong gusts of wind. I think when you look at how light weight some of these boats were it becomes obvious that it would take relatively little wind to overturn them when they are cornering under power.

It is exciting to watch and speeds involved appeared to be between 50 and 70 MPH.

No granny the Broads Authority Warden wont’ let you out in your rowing boat until the racing is over. Even the local pleasure boat which chuffs around the southern waters inched its way nervously along one bank as the competitors hurtled by in haste.