Wetwheels Foundation has boats all around the country. Finley Allen, Soundview’s Junior producer, was lucky enough to be the person to give the latest addition to their fleet it’s debut spin. Here, he tells us all about his experience:
What is Wetwheels?
I was excited after we got the phone call from Wetwheels, who were asking us to film their latest launch. They do amazing work. Wetwheels is a national charity set up in 2011, by lifelong sailor Geoff Holt. Geoff was paralysed in 1984 after a swimming accident and as a result he became a wheelchair user. He was eager to continue with his lifelong passion and wanted others to have the same opportunities on the water. Geoff set up the charity Wetwheels, which has fully accessible boats. He hoped to give people of all ages and abilities the chance to experience power boating; something they would never forget.
“When I founded Wetwheels it was with the aim to make the sea accessible to all disabilities, including those most excluded. It had to be a sensory focused experience. I designed the boat with a ramp to the wheel so anyone with a disability could be captain of a powerboat. Only out on the water does the real magic happen. You leave your disability on the dock and have a truly memorable adventure on the ocean.”
The newest addition to Wetwheels is the sixth fully adapted boat. After initially starting out in the Solent, Wetwheels branched out to Jersey, Hamble, Whitby, Dover and now Falmouth. I could not resist the offer to captain her on her maiden voyage.
My Experience
We got on the boat and tied my chair to the deck. I thought “Ah this will be a gentle ride into the Carrick Roads.” Then with a “Ready?” from Geoff and captain Dave we were off. It was quite a force at first, giving me a kick of adrenalin as we reached 50 mph. A few minutes more and it was my turn to take control. I’d never driven a boat before, let alone a brand-new state of the art £200,000 powerboat.
The excited and nervous energy that I felt quickly subsided, as I took the wheel and I began to steer the boat. With the help of the excellent captain Dave, (I couldn’t have done it otherwise!) we weaved around other vessels as we approached the mouth of the Fal. We eventually reached open water, that’s where the sense of freedom set in. I felt at ease with the situation as the boat began to glide through the water. Although the boat was going at 30 mph, I never once felt unsure. I think the photo says it all. Thanks Wetwheels for a truly memorable adventure on the ocean. I am definitely coming back for more!
Of course it was never just about me having fun! We also captured the launch for their promotional video. In addition to that we had the added bonus of sending the footage to ITV and BBC. It then made the lunchtime and evening news.
Find out more about Wetwheels
To find out more about this brilliant charity click here: https://wetwheelsfoundation.org
See more of our video production work here.
