FEATURE
We’re having a new hull built for next season, and we’ll be aiming high in the European and World Class 3A Championships. I’d also love to go for the outboard powered monohull speed record too, which is currently 103.02mph. If anyone would like to sponsor please get in touch!
N: He’s always been the academic one, far smarter than me! But I’ve always been better at working with my hands so the pair of us work well together. His worst quality is his lack of patience. How did you get into playing music? P: When I was around 14 a few of my friends wanted to form a band, so I volunteered to play drums and learned as I went along. I’ve tried guitar since but am far too ham-fisted, so have stuck to whacking drums. N: Paul taught me the basics of drumming as he learned, and I taught myself the rest. I have sung in bands too but I’d rather be behind the kit any day. What have been your musical highlights? P: Playing Bloodstock Festival last year with Byzanthian Neckbeard was a definite highlight - being on the same bill as some of my favourite bands in the world was amazing. I’m proud of every band I’ve been in though. N: Filling the Peace Tent at Chaos Festival with Heave was my personal highlight. Also any of the times we supported our friends Bulletproof from Jersey with mine and Paul’s old band Limefire. Who has the best music taste? P: Definitely me. N: Mine is more varied. Our tastes in heavy music are very similar, but you’ll find a lot more punk, acoustic, and even folk on my iPod.
Did you get along growing up? How about now? Paul: No and no! I broke his arm on the beach when he was about five by pushing him off a rock. I think he’s been looking for payback ever since! Neil: Far less growing up, much more so now. I was the annoying little brother and like most siblings we argued. That’s not to say that we don’t have the odd falling out now too! What are your brother’s best and worst qualities? P: He’s extremely good at fabrication and figuring out engineering problems, which helps massively with the boat. Worst quality is probably his short temper, which we definitely both inherited from our dad!
BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
How did you get into power boating? P: Growing up, Powerboat Week was the highlight of my year. With dad doing repair work on a lot of the boats we were always around them. I’d always dreamed of racing, so when the sport had a resurgence locally I had to get involved. I started out with a cheap boat that I bought from a friend and blew the motor up before we even crossed a start line, but I was hooked. I got a new motor, but snapped that and split the boat’s hull in our first race. We’ve learned a lot about making things stronger in the last few years. N: As soon as Paul decided he wanted to race, I knew that it was my duty to be the pit monkey. I do most of the engineering, fabrication and repair work. What do you like about the sport? P: I love going fast, I love the sea, I like scaring myself now and then, I like taking things apart and trying to make them better so it’s perfect for me. I have a great navigator in Chris Stonebridge – he’s a key part of the team and we work very well together. N: The camaraderie, good sportsmanship and banter between local racers, and the incredible job that the Guernsey Powerboat Association does race after race. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of.
What have been your favourite moments power boating? P: Our first lap in the 2014 world championships was amazing. We didn’t have a great start but as soon as we hit the rough water on the way down to Fermain and out to Lowerheads we were flying and overtook around 10 boats. It was brutal but we were loving it. Breaking a national speed record on Lake Coniston last year was a great moment too. N: The 2014 world championships in Guernsey were amazing all round, but standing at the end of the jetty at Coniston last year seeing Paul and Chris officially break that record is my best memory so far. Seeing a boat that used lots of my homemade and modified parts achieve that kind of success is something that I’ll be proud of forever. It was made even better by the fact our awesome parents were there to share the memory with us. There were a lot of high fives that day! What are your next goals? P: We’re having a new hull built for next season, and we’ll be aiming high in the European and World Class 3A Championships. I’d also love to go for the outboard powered monohull speed record too, which is currently 103.02mph. If anyone would like to sponsor please get in touch! N: To finish my long-term labour of love, a 1930 Ford Model A hotrod, and take it to some UK and European shows. Also doing my bit to make sure team Slayer sees as much success and safe racing as possible. What is a good night out in Guernsey for you? P: Several Bredas in the Guernsey Yacht Club after a race weekend then into town with the other racers – that’s always a good night. N: A good gig at the Fermain Tavern followed by an after-party somewhere. What is your poison? P: Breda, bourbon and dark rum N: Breda Superdry, cider and black, or Red Stag and coke Where do you like to eat out? P: Cornerstone, I don’t even have to tell them my order! N: Queens or The Cornerstone. The soundtrack to the opening credits of your life story would be… P: Pantera, Strength Beyond Strength. Don’t bother wasting time with intros and get straight to the good stuff! N: Reuben, Every Time a Teenager Listens to Drum and Bass a Rockstar Dies.
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