Case Study

Guy Martin

Hovercraft World Record Attempt

The Brief

Case Study

Guy Martin

Hovercraft World Record Attempt

The Brief

Client

North One Television / Guy Martin’s Production Team

Location

Lincolnshire Waterway

The Brief

BM Safety was commissioned to provide the safety management and on water safety support for Guy Martin’s attempt to break the hovercraft world speed record, a high-profile project filmed for national broadcast.

The team required specialist water safety expertise to protect personnel, manage the risks of high-speed runs, and ensure full compliance during filming and testing phases.

The Challenge

Operating at speeds exceeding 120 km/h (75 mph) on water, the attempt pushed the limits of hovercraft performance and control. Conditions were unpredictable: gusting winds, shallow sections, and limited visibility meant that any incident could escalate quickly.

The safety brief demanded:

Immediate response capability in case of capsize or collision.
Trained crews capable of working under broadcast and engineering constraints.
Seamless integration with the filming and technical teams.

During one run, a sudden wind gust caused the craft to lift, flip, and crash, demonstrating exactly why expert water safety and rapid response were essential.

Our Solution

BM Safety Provided

Fully equipped safety boats positioned at strategic points along the test course.
Rescue-trained and qualified crews with rapid response capability.
Paramedic (with water based expertise).
Pre-event water safety training for the production team and engineers.
Continuous team safety briefing and communication with hovercraft and camera crews to coordinate operations and maintain safety cover.

Our operatives maintained vigilance throughout each test run, ensuring safe access and quick reaction to changing conditions.

The Result

Guy Martin achieved a new UK hovercraft speed record of 121.04 km/h (75.21 mph), narrowly missing the world record.

Although the world record attempt was abandoned following a dramatic crash caused by crosswinds, all crew and production staff remained safe. BM Safety’s expertise in water safety and coordination under high-risk, high-pressure conditions was instrumental in allowing the project to be completed without serious incident.

At a Glance

Technical expertise: risk management, reporting and live safety planning for high-speed watercraft operations in a diverse ever changing environment.
Safety equipment: safety boats with rapid-response capability and communications.
On-site support: trained in-water operatives, safety manager, paramedic, safety cover, and water safety instruction for crew.
Project duration: multi-day filming and testing period.
Our difference: trusted, calm, qualified and technically proficient safety specialists who enable complex filming and engineering projects to happen safely.