Boats to race up to 100mph at King's Lynn water sport festival

BBC News

21-06-2025

Boats travelling at speeds of up to 100mph are set to race at one of Europe's biggest water sport events.The Hanseatic Festival of Watersports in King's Lynn, Norfolk, attracts athletes and spectators from across the continent. Over the weekend, the event will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a variety of competitions on the River Great Ouse, which runs beside the town. Jason Russell, the festival's organiser, said: "There's a big hype, it's an absolutely adrenaline packed race."
Over the two-day event, spectators at the Quayside in King's Lynn will be able to see jet ski, powerboat and water ski races. The event will also include a flyover from the World War Two Lancaster Bomber plane and live music. Mr Russell said he was "proud" of the festival's growth over the past decade. "When we started it, we said to the council that this could be massive, and it's turned into that," he said. "People just love coming here."He credits the riverside location to the success of the event, as spectators were able to get a close view of the racers.The location also provides a safe shelter from adverse weather conditions."It can't get cancelled as it's in the banks of the river, so the weather does not deter it if it gets windy or rough... They're guaranteed to race."
On Saturday, it is forecasted to reach 31C at the site of the festival in King's Lynn. The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency have issued an amber heat health alert for across the weekend, meaning that the weather could impact the health of the wider population. People attending the event are being encouraged to keep hydrated and wear sun cream. "We've got plenty of paramedics who will be patrolling and keeping an eye on everybody," Mr Russell said."It's lovely when this weather's here, but at the end of the day, we have to be sensible about it."
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