This is a long story.

I started driving boats somewhere around 1992 while working as a field officer for the White Shark Research Project in Cape Town South Africa. I then became the Inflatable Rubber Boat skipper and trainer for Clifton surf Lifesaving Club.

Moving to the UK in 2001, I left boats for a number of years before joining Bedfordshire fire and Rescue Service where I became a helm and Water Technician Instructor.

A few years later I completed my Yachtmaster Offshore and delivered a few boats and played around with boats for a while before leaving the fire service in 2022.

I started driving commercial RIBS on the Thames in 2021 and progressed to these and various other freelance skipper jobs on the Thames including driving venetian taxi’s and a gentlemans cruiser for a luxury boat charter company.

I am currently moving into the MCA world and work as a mate and Class V master on the Thames Clippers whilst I get my Boatmaster and High Speed Master Tickets and RYA teaching endorsements.

Boats driven(That I can remember)

6m Rib with 75hp Outboard

9m Rib with 250hp Outboard

Rocket One, Red Rocket - 12.5m Rib with twin Sterndrive (2x350)

Captain Rocket, Rocket science, Rocket Junior - 12.5m Rib with Twin Jets (2x425)

Thames Limo - 9m Venetian Taxi with single outdrive.

Grazia - 10m Venetian Taxi with Single outdrive.

Bourne- 15m Wooden cruiser with twin inboard and rudders

Broke the Bank 2 – Benetteau 38GT. Twin Sterndrives.

Shirley T - 36ft Motor catamaran

Various ski boats

Thames Clippers Typhoon Class 38.5m hydra cat high speed ferry propellor drive carrying 220 passengers.

Thames Clippers Hunt Class MkI-III 39m hydra cat high speed ferry with jet drives carrying 150-180 passengers.

Thames Clippers Passenger Launch vessels. High speed executive launches with jet drives. One has been configured as a freight moving vessel for DHL.