To run a successful speedboat operation on the iconic River Thames, one must embody a certain flair—and Charlie Matheson definitely has that. As we reached top speed on the thrilling stretch of the river between Canary Wharf and Greenwich, his tousled hair was styled perfectly by the wind, blown back with just the right amount of carefree charm. With wide eyes gleaming with excitement and an impish grin that could light up the darkest day, he resembled a delightful mix of Pierce Brosnan’s suave character in the adrenaline-pumping chase scene of ‘The World Is Not Enough’ and an exuberant spaniel joyfully sticking its head out of a car window.

“Wonderful, wonderful, yes, yes!” Matheson shouted above the thunderous roar of the twin engines that powered ‘Rocket Rebel,’ the newest and largest addition to his fleet at Thames Rockets. For nearly two decades, the company’s eye-catching red speedboats have turned heads and rustled hair as they navigate the waters of central London, creating ripples in an otherwise serene scene dominated by traditional ferries and leisurely cruisers.

“You can always gauge the vitality of a city by observing its waterways,” Matheson noted, reflecting on his experience. As Charlene Peck, the skilled skipper of the ‘Rebel’, expertly maneuvered the 26-seater vessel like a holiday jet ski, he added, “If there’s a buzz and excitement on the river, it’s a truly positive sign for the city.”

After seven long years of dreaming and planning, Matheson, now 48 years old, has finally brought his vision of a purpose-built thrill ride to life in the heart of London. He already operates five smaller 12-seater rigid-inflatable boats (RIBs), but ‘Rocket Rebel’ represents a significant leap forward for his business. As the first passenger to board the impressive £1.6 million vessel, I felt an air of anticipation as we prepared for its public launch on April 10, from the pier nestled under the famous London Eye in Westminster. As we set off, onlookers gawked at the striking red dart slicing through the Thames’ murky waters.

“It’s incredibly exhilarating to finally see her after dreaming about it for so long,” Matheson exclaimed as we bounced over the wake left by another boat. With the addition of this new vessel, Thames Rockets, which boasted a turnover of £3 million last year, has significantly increased its daily capacity for hour-long trips east of Westminster from approximately 500 to 700 passengers. Matheson noted that the demand for such experiences is growing as London increasingly embraces its waterways.

In recent decades, the Thames has undergone an identity crisis, particularly since shipping containers shifted the capital’s cargo trade to the deep-water port at Tilbury in Essex. However, the redevelopment of docks, wharves, and power stations has begun to transform this once-industrial artery into a vibrant leisure destination.

Entrepreneurial watermen have played a critical role in this transformation. The Woods family initiated modest river tours in the 1950s and subsequently developed the Silver Fleet of sightseeing cruisers while co-founding the Thames Clippers passenger service in 1999. Gary Beckwith, who previously operated a fuel barge, began offering tourist trips in the 1980s, launching City Cruises in 1996.

These companies are currently enjoying robust growth, with record sales and the expansion of their fleets. Thames Clippers, which entered into a partnership with Uber in 2020, transported over 5 million passengers on its large catamarans last year, with an increasing proportion of these being tourists. At its latest pier next to the revitalized Battersea Power Station, visitors disembark at a location where coal was once unloaded, a nod to the history of the area.

Matheson arrived in London in 2005 at the age of 28 and sensed that the Thames was primed for an infusion of energy. Tired of the finance world in Guernsey, where he spent his youth fishing and waterskiing, he began taking tourists to a seal colony using a speedy RIB. Inspired by his father’s encouragement to explore opportunities in London, Matheson and his sister embarked on a quest to try out various boats, ranging from dinner cruises to tours filled with cringe-worthy commentary. “She even fell asleep on one of them,” he chuckled, recalling their experiences. “None of them were exciting.”

With a vision in mind, he created mock leaflets depicting one of his Guernsey boats racing beneath Tower Bridge and successfully persuaded the owners of the London Eye to allow him to rent a portion of their pier—a deal that remains in place to this day. He launched his tours in 2006, recalling, “There wasn’t even a speed limit back then. We’d zip through central London at 40 knots [46 mph].”

Now, there is a speed limit of 12 knots (14 mph) in the city center. Therefore, for the first 20 minutes of the trip, Thames Rockets employs comedic actors as tour guides before the boats can accelerate to 30 knots (35 mph) along the stretch between Wapping and Greenwich to the east. Strapped into my seatbelt, I could feel the adrenaline surging as I seemed to travel twice as fast as the river’s current.

Despite no longer holding a license to personally thrill passengers, Matheson still exudes charisma on a speedboat. He now devotes most of his time to managing his business from an office situated above a bar near the pier. Over the years, he has faced numerous challenges, including competition from imitators, economic downturns, and the pandemic’s impacts. However, he attributes the success of his business to an unwavering passion for London and the exhilarating experience of speed. “I’ve always been completely intoxicated by that feeling of skimming over water,” he reflected as I returned to the dock, my legs slightly shaky from the thrill. “In an odd way, I find it therapeutic.”

For those interested in experiencing the excitement, Simon Usborne was invited as a guest of Thames Rockets (thamesrockets.com). Seats on ‘Rocket Rebel’ are priced at £54.95 for adults and £49.95 for children for an hour-long tour during April, with prices increasing to £69.95 for all passengers starting May 1.

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