Water + Wind + WetWheels = A whole lot of Fun!

                      Water + Wind + WetWheels = A whole lot of Fun!

WetWheels is always a huge success with the Polygon pupils, and this term was no exception! We love the team at WetWheels, the staff are always engaging, super friendly, accommodating, and ready to have some fun.

This term, the Personal Development team took out the new Year 7 classes. For most of the boys, this was their first trip out with the Polygon and their first experience on a boat. Naturally, this brought some apprehension and nerves, but those who had worries were very good at voicing them to staff so they could be put at ease.

With Lifejackets on and a safety briefing out the way we always start out with a tootle up the river, and of course abiding by the speed limits. This gives the boys a chance to take in the scenery, spot some fancy boats, and ask any questions they have about the experience.

Once out of the harbour, we join the Solent and enjoy sights such as Victoria Country Park, the Isle of Wight, and Fawley Power Station.

The boys can use the onboard computer to see the sea depth, speed and position and ask staff any questions they may have about life at sea.

With everyone prepared and safely seated, we begin the countdown… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… WetWheels! At that moment, the captain hits the throttle and we go from 0–20+ knots — and the screaming begins!

Depending on where you sit, you might get mildly sprayed with sea splash, or completely drenched down to your socks! Funny enough, the seats that get you soaked are always very popular.

By this point, nearly all nerves are gone, and all you can hear is screaming to go faster! These trips are always so much fun, but it’s also fantastic to watch the boys go from a little nervous to full of adrenaline and confidence in such a short time. They get to see their environment from a whole new perspective, sparking curiosity that might not otherwise have been discovered.

Once again, we owe a huge thank you to the team at WetWheels for allowing us these opportunities and for being so fantastic with the pupils. As the boat comes out of the water for another season, we wish them well and very much look forward to more trips with them next year!