Boatshed Hamble get many requests in the course of a working week and the ones we like the most are the ones that get us out on the water.

Last week we were returning to Ocean Village in our RIB when a black Thundercat shot up along side us with two rubber clad and helmeted individuals aboard, we slowed down and the crew member removed his helmet to reveal an old powerboating friend in the shape of Vee Ganjavian whose Sunseeker XS we reported on previously when we had the pleasure of a trip out.

Vee introduced his helm as Dean Dunbar and explained that Dean was 1) Blind and 2) going to attempt to helm this Thundercat all the away around the Isle of Wight the following day ! We were then asked if we would like to come along as a support boat.

How could we resist, so Friday morning on the 25th August saw us out with two other Boatshed Hamble friends on a perfectly calm and gorgeously sunny morning to follow Dean & Vee around the island as fast as they could manage in the trusty Boatshed Hamble Tohatsu Offshore Rib.

The Thundercat that Dean was helming is near enough the same as a Zapcat that many of you would recognise, and is powered by a 50hp Tohatsu outboard. Vee's part in the attempt was twofold. Firstly he had to keep Dean informed about what was going on around him at all times, telling him to slow down or speed up, to turn left or right and at the same time as a crew member he had to move himself about the open Thundercat to help trim it for optimum performance and handling.

The start line was at the Gurnard Cardinal marker just off the mouth of the Medina River at Cowes. There were two other support RIB's as well as another Thundercat to offer support.

To cut a long trip short, Dean & Vee literally flew round the Island with Dean following Vee's instructions explicitly which had the Thundercat flying along at on average of 40 mph with her hull perfectly trimmed out. Vee had to work hard throwing his body weight around to achieve the optimum flying position at all times
Before we new it they were crossing the line again in a time of 1hr 24 min 25 sec.

Congratulations to Dean for his achievement from Michael and myself.