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London is the hottest city on the planet right now – London 2012 is in full swing and the world’s media are focussed on the Olympic stadium, the city and the River Thames, just as they were during the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations back in June. Whilst the roads, parks and public spaces are heaving with tourists there is a chance to escape the melee, yet experience many of the great sights along the banks of London’s historic waterway and all in just 50-minutes. Is it really possible in such a short space of time? Well yes it is, if you are sitting on one of a fleet of high-performance crafts run by ‘London RIB Voyages’ that offers a very unique experience and perspective of London’s historical and modern buildings.

Exhilaration, excitement, adrenalin-fuelled fun…these are just some of the adjectives that trip off the tongue as easily as the ‘rib’ carves a path along the river. In fact this is an event planners dream! Here is an ideal team bonding and building incentive to beat all others. Moored at the Pier immediately under the ‘London Eye’, the striking orange-coloured rubber dinghies are nestled between the large sightseeing barges, waiting to propel guests on a memorable excursion.

Stepping aboard the ‘Rib’ we were greeted by our guide ‘Stacy’ (the rib always sails with a knowledgeable guide) who ‘sets the scene’ of the trip as soon as the life-jackets are strapped on, bringing her own individual humour aboard with her to describe the history of everything from the gothic façade of ‘The Palace of Westminster’ through to the gleaming skyscrapers of the ‘Shard’ and ‘Canary Wharf’. All the while anticipation is growing towards the moment the driver pushes the throttle forward and opens up the twin 200hp ‘Envinrude’ engines that lifts the nose of the rib, pins you firmly to your seat and quite literally makes your hair stand on end! The magical moment came for us just after we passed under ‘London Bridge’ currently adorned by the Olympic rings. The bridge forming the invisible border between the speed restricted area and the part of the Thames where the boats performance can be realised.

The ‘rib’ gets free reign around the comparatively traffic-free waterways of ‘Wapping’ and ‘Canary Wharf’ creating a blur of London’s modern developments creeping further east, a major part of the London 2012 legacy. With rock music accompanying the increase of speed to 35 knots, we zip across the water like a skimming pebble bouncing effortlessly from crest to crest, the driver arcing and swerving ever more acutely to encourage ‘whoops’ of joy from his passengers. The rib then returns more sedately to its berth.

Ribs can be hired for the exclusive use of groups if required and each carries a maximum of 12 passengers. So for event planners or professional conference organisers who wish to reinvigorate and refresh delegates then the ‘London RIB Voyages’ is the best ‘breakout’ session in London!