By Donna Richardson
London is the ultimate place for a spy adventure, and if you want to channel some 007 vibes, including an exhilarating high-speed boat chase echoing unforgettable moments from “The World Is Not Enough,” look no further than the Thames.
The Rocket Rebel recently made its stunning debut in the capital. It embarks from the Thames Embankment, giving guests a license to thrill as they race down the river and creating lasting memories for their loved ones.
The London Eye glinted majestically against the bright blue sky as we arrived excitedly on the pier. Soon, we were helped into our bright red lifejackets, and we could hardly contain our excitement as we eagerly waited to board.
The Rocket Rebel is a feat of modern naval engineering genius. It cost £1.6 million to build and is the brainchild of Guernsey boat entrepreneur Charlie Matheson, who accompanied us on the inaugural ride. It was an extraordinary experience for all ages. Our daughter was given a goodie bag with vibrant red sunglasses and a bespoke Lego set of the brand-new rocket boats.
Thames Rockets has introduced the Rocket Rebel, an upgraded 26-seater boat designed to transport celebrities like Amanda Holden along the Thames. This sleek, Ferrari-red vessel offers more than double the capacity of standard 12-passenger boats. We enjoyed a James Bond-themed adventure with entertainment from top comedians and actors as we sailed past historic landmarks such as the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, London Bridge, and Tower Bridge.
Charlie shared his childhood dream of launching this craft: “We needed something sleek, exciting, and sexy; this was it. I have dreamt of this since I was a young boy.”
As we sped under Tower Bridge, the James Bond theme filled the air. The wind whipped through our hair as we raced past gleaming skyscrapers at a thrilling 35 mph, proud to be on the fastest boat on the River Thames.
Engineered for high-speed turns, the aluminium chassis is powered by two 725 hp (1,440 hp) low-emission jet-propelled engines, which are even more impressive than the existing fleet’s 440 hp engines.
Charlie collaborated with British naval architects at Chartwell Marine to visualise the design, which was brought to life by the Isle of Wight’s Diverse Marine, renowned for building strong, fast and lightweight aluminium commercial boats.
The Guernsey native transformed an old fish and chip shop into his office to launch tours of the Channel Islands. Then he bought a boat and developed a successful online booking system and then imported that model to the UK. He said:
“In Guernsey, I used Marine biologists, but here in London, I knew we had many out-of-work actors, so I thought, ‘Let’s use them and in terms of the boat we wanted something sleek and sexy that operated within the strict licensing laws, so I believe we have a unique concept.”
Rocket Rebel departs from the iconic London Eye Pier (Boarding Gate One) and heads down the Thames, showcasing some of London’s most famous sights such as The Houses of Parliament,, Cleopatra’s Needle, Somerset House, Tate Modern, St Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, before reaching top speeds in the no speed limit zone towards Canary Wharf’s gleaming skyscrapers.
Charlie added: “Rocket Rebel is what our incredible capital deserves – an exciting, eye-catching, contemporary way to experience our glorious city at speed from the water, complete with a massive sound system, all hosted by our talented actor-comedian guides.”
“Rocket Rebel fulfils all licensing requirements while ensuring passengers enjoy sensory connections with the elements, exhilarating turns, and breathtaking acceleration. It was a formidable challenge for British naval architects, but they excelled. We’ve doubled our capacity and significantly reduced our carbon footprint with a more efficient engine and lower emissions, all while accommodating twice the number of guests.”
The Rocket Rebel, launched on Thursday, 10 April – just in time for the Easter break- and will offer every passenger a license to thrill. We can’t wait to return for more adventures.
Tickets cost £69.95 Find out more at https://www.thamesrockets.com/ultimate-london-adventure-rocket-rebel-50-mins/
Donna Richardson and her family went on the Rocket Rebel over the school holidays. With the next school holidays coming up what are you waiting for?
