Wave of success

Richard Horland and Keith Holland are Inflatable Powerboat racers, and even thought they are a long way from huge bodies of water, the two are currently tied in third place for the national championship, after only two rounds and placed first in the Port Elizabeth flat water nationals.

The two practise at Rynfield Dam in Benoni and Hartbeespoort Dam.

“The challenge is of not knowing what the water is going to do next and the fact that positions are always changing depending on who gets the better waves,” Horland said. “We compete on flat water, inland, which is where we dominate. The national series is competed in the surf and on flat water and results are combined to determine the standings,” Horland said.

Horland and Holland love the speed aspect of inflatable boat racing.

“The standard class, which is the slowest class, in which we participate, the boats reach speeds over 80km/h which is very fast on water especially when you consider that we will do 90 degree turns at that speed. The racing is also very much side by side racing,” Horland said.

While this seems dangerous, the sport is extremely safe.

“It’s not really a dangerous sport. The only real danger is falling out of the boat and being hit by a passing boats propeller. Participants in the sport are very safety conscious people,” he said.

Safety equipment such as helmets and life jackets, and a racing licence are part and parcel of the sport.

Inflatable Powerboat Racing was founded in South Africa in the 1980s, and has since evolved into a power house sport. With three race disciplines and a bevy of adrenaline junkies that vie for championships it is both competitive and thrilling.

The two have their sights set on the world championships but need to be sponsored to ensure their wave of success is not short-lived.

Details: richard_horwell@yahoo.com