A speed limit has now been introduced to the River Thames from Wandsworth to Cherry Garden Pier, opposite Wapping. This means that there is a speed limit between the bridges all the way to Tower Bridge.
As we operate from St. Katherine’s pier, next to Tower Bridge, we are the only speedboat company on the river that this does not affect. If you leave from Westminster or Embankment, forty of the fifty minutes on the trip is at 12 knots or less. Only from Wapping to Limehouse can these boats get on the plane.
Leaving from St. Katherine’s Pier, we are on the plane and going straight after the guide has introduced the trip.
I think it is fair to say that Flying Fish Tours are the only real speedboat company on the river Thames now.
Combined with operating from a quiet and exclusive pier next to the Tower of London, using the only jet boat on the river and the best prices on the river, Flying Fish Tours have to be the only choice for a speedboat ride on the river.

This is Ben sailing the boat at a heavy angle coming straight at us. Got out of the way just in time.

Friday was an interesting day for us, as we were working as the camera boat for the arrival of Ben Ainslie in town. He was helming a fast catamaran into London. I had 7 cameramen on board (and one lady), who were very keen to get a picture of the boat at an extreme angle.
Unfortunately, they were getting pretty angry with the safety boat which kept on getting in the way, and the cameraman on board that boat was getting all the best pictures.
It was getting pretty hairy with all the trip boats continuing to operate as if nothing was happening, and turning all around us in the area of Tower Bridge.
After some pleas, Ben put us in the right spot and got some great pictures that then appeared in the Times. I met Ben, shook his hand and offered congratulations. What a great achievement, and he deserves all the rewards after a lifetime of commitment.

We then went on to take out guests who were on HMS President in the evening. We took out 24 people at a time, past Tower Bridge and back. They were a great bunch and had a great time.

Saturday was a busy day, with all the boats out throughout the day. Charters are very popular, with groups and companies. If you shop around, you will see that we offer the best value of any speedboat company of the Thames. This is particularly true of our Thames Barrier trip, which is great value.

Blackfriars offers the best location on the Thames, as you can see some of the sights, and then get onto the plane and some serious speed up past Greenwich, O2 and the Barrier. The other companies operating from Westminster and Embankment spend most of their trip at displacement speeds, which seems to defeat the object of a speed boat ride to me.

Took out a group of RAF pilots today, who were being entertained in London. Hopefully, I might get a trip on one of their planes? You can always hope!!

Best wishes

Paul

This has been an interesting August with the changeable weather. Although it has threatened rain, it rarely happens. So it has been a great summer and I have really enjoyed the trips.

It has been very rewarding with the comments from customers, who have given a big thumnbs up to the jet boat. It really is an amazing bit of kit.

Leaving from Blackfriars, we have a pier that is away from the crowds, providing a great place to start the trip away from the hustle and bustle of Westminster and Embankment.

We are also away from the speed limitations of central London around those areas, so we can get on the plane straight away, and have a proper speed boat ride.

I am delighted that we can offer such a good value trip. I am pleased that we go so far compared with other operators for so much less. Whilst everyone else is turning around at Canary Wharf, we continue to Greenwich, O2 Arena and then the Barrier.

The Thames Barrier is in the news a lot recently, with the realisation that global warming is for real. it is a remarkable piece of engineering, and there is no better way to see it than from a boat.

Greenwich is probably one of the most beautiful views in London, and again, it comes into its own when seen from the river. I do the trip regularly, and always enjoy the comments from the customers who add to our knowledge of the sites with their own insights.

Hope to see you on the river soon.

Paul

Hi Guys,

Thank you so much for our jet boat charter. From Chris who helped us with the booking, your pier staff who were really friendly and helpful and your excellent boat coxswain, the whole event was brilliant.

I have recommended flying fish to everyone that I have spoken to about our day out, and I am sure that I am not finished yet.

The thought of my brother in a wedding dress hurtling along the Thames will be with me and our friends for a very long time to come….

Best regards, and thank you once again for the best event of our day out.

Stephen.

Stephen Firminger

Global Training and Support 

Paul,

I would like to record my appreciation for the role that you and Flying Fish Tours played in making our Team ‘Awayday’ such a great success.  HMS President was a perfect place for lunch and the boat ride was an opportunity that was enjoyed by all even those that were soaked!  I hope that your forthcoming Fast Jet experience will be able to match the excitement of rushing down the Thames at great speed.

I look forward to taking another trip in due course with the family and friends however that time I will pay and expect to get wet!

Thanks once again

regards  

M C GREEN

“I booked a surprise trip with Flying Fish for my Dad as part of our day

out in London to celebrate Fathers’ Day. He (and I) absolutely loved

it! We both know London pretty well and have done several walking tours

in the past - but this was something totally different. From arrival at

the pontoon you are given a very warm welcome and personal service,

which continues throughout the trip. The voyage is an extraordinary

experience - it is really special to see London from the river. I can’t

believe how much distance we travelled in one trip and so many things

were pointed out by our informative guide that we would never have known

about otherwise! The commentary was fascinating and hugely

entertaining, and in between stops speeding along on the water was so

exciting - the bumpy bits made us giggle like crazy! It was a very

adventurous ride, but we felt safe throughout. The boat was

surprisingly comfortable on the backside and we were nice and snug in

the waterproof jackets allocated to us by the team before departure.

These tours really are brilliant value for money - and the smile on

Dad’s face from start to finish was priceless. I would recommend Flying

Fish tours to anyone - I have no doubt you will come back raving about

it just as we have! The Thames really is the heart of London’s history,

so what better place to start your sightseeing! Thanks guys!! Belinda,

London”

–

Belinda Fullelove, Divisional Administrator, Academic Registrar’s

Hi Guys,

Thank you so much for our jet boat charter. From Chris who helped us with the booking, your pier staff who were really friendly and helpful and your excellent boat coxswain, the whole event was brilliant.

I have recommended flying fish to everyone that I have spoken to about our day out, and I am sure that I am not finished yet.

The thought of my brother in a wedding dress hurtling along the Thames will be with me and our friends for a very long time to come….

Best regards, and thank you once again for the best event of our day out.

Stephen.

Dear All at “Flying Fish”

A note to thank you for the trip yesterday which was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed by the 5 of us. Special mention of course to Michael, but thanks to all the team. We will certainly recommend “Flying Fish” to others.

Sincerely, Rob Hunt

Hi Chris

I hope you are well.

I am just writing to say Thank you for helping to organize our boat ride and put up with my numerous changes !! We all had a great time and were looked after really well !! I want to do it again !!

Thanks for all your help

Best Wishes

Fiona