Adventures by sea: kayaking the Palm, Abu Dhabi’s islands and powerboat racing

So I can do this one. >> Yeah, you Yeah, you can do that one. >> Oh, that one. The beast. >> Come on. >> Uh, we need to see about this. We need to see about this. So, >> go on. Is there a chance I can get in there? Even just a five minutes. I'm Paris Norris and I'm here to give you a glimpse into my world. Look at this. I've raced the world's fastest power boats, swam with sharks, and rode across the wild Pacific Ocean. We finally made it to the island of Kawaii. I'm on a mission to hunt down the biggest thrills and meet the people that live extraordinary lives. Join me on a journey that will take you to the depths of the oceans and across challenging landscapes to places few have

ever seen. You know, it was only earlier this year that I undertook the biggest adventure of my lifetime when I rode 4,800 km across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Took me 39 days. What on earth? inspired me to do this. It's probably what you're saying. Well, I've been living for 14 years in a nation of seafarers, the UAE. I've had some great times on the water. I want to show you in this episode some of those. We're here at Palm Jira. We're going canoeing today around the palm. So, it's about 16 km around the circumference. So, we're expecting it to take us about 5 hours. Coming to the outside of the path and already I can feel the waves getting more choppy. And they're actually quite big. Right, surf is up. Wind is choppy. The

waves are choppy. The currents against us. We're going anticlockwise round. Got around about just less than a quarter. It's a hot spot for luxury boats around here. This is where everybody brings their yachts and parties. Everything on the palm is built on reclaimed land. So, it was just the sea before and it took them 5 years to uh dredge the land between 2001 to 2006 when they opened the first apartments here. Uh it cost 12 billion US and they funneled 94 million cub m of sand to build the islands. >> Right. So, these are the bridges to get on the island. We're going under them now before we go around the rest of the palm. The first one is the Montreal and the other one is for driving cars across. So, we're on the other

side now. We've got the Burg Arab and the Burj Khalifa in the background there. Now, I'm exhausted. coming up this way. All the waves are against you. I feel like we're just going backwards. Like I don't think we made any progress. The waves are getting crazy. They're really big now. I almost get pushed against the rock. Going to keep some distance. We've only got the home stretch left to get home. We got 1 hour left. Going to be cutting it tight, but I've still got some gas in the oven. So, we're going to be going on to lightning speed. Last hotel and then we're in. Woo! 12:58. That's cool. Good judgment. Woo! We did it in time. And so, we did it in exactly 4 hours 58 minutes, which is good judgment, I think, for

under 5 hours. Well, that's one way to see Palm Jira. But if I really want to see Dubai, I'm going to need an engine or this is going to take forever. Luckily, there's something that might be just perfect. We've come to see the sights of Dubai from the sea in one of these, which is a little sea buggy which takes us around. You can fit two people in each one, but I'm going to go on my own. And they go pretty fast, apparently. So, we're going to see some of the sites in these things. The boats themselves, they're built to go about 30 to 35 knots. So, you can count to 60 70 km an hour full tilt. 70 km an hour. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, it's actually quicker taking this down to Bulab

than taking the Jur road. >> Absolutely. Yeah. I get about 12 to 15 minutes full tilt to Balarab from here. >> That's right. >> But we're not going to do that. This is a cruise. It's an experience. Yeah. We want photos and selfies and all that story. Yeah. >> So, we're going nice and slow cuz we're still in the marina. We're just driving out onto the main bit of the sea. And hopefully we can then put up some gears and go a bit faster. Let's get it. Got a 10-minute stretch to get here. Taking a stop off at the Bersel Arab. Take a look from behind it. Get some photos, some selfies, and he's going to tell us a little story about the Burjel Arab. The entire hotel is decorated with seven tennis courts worth

of 24 karat gold leaf. You've also got a 24 karat gold iPad, which is like a virtual concierge. 24-hour Rolls-Royce show first service. There are actually a few families that make their permanent residence inside the Burj Arab. So, their rent is plus of a million per year. He's just given us a brief about the Burj Arab and some interesting facts. Now, we're going to head down past the palaces to Logo Island. Behind us here, we have Logo Island. He belongs to his highest shake and it's called Logo Island because it was designed in the shape of the Palm Leaf. Hence the logo of the Palm Development Company LLC, the guys who were responsible for building the palm. If you look through the trees, you can spot two white boats. The huge one behind at the

back is called Dubai. It is the fourth largest yacht in the world and the second largest private yacht in the world. 162 m long. It takes 160 people can travel 8,500 miles on a single tank of gas. To put that in perspective, that's traveling from Dubai to Los Angeles without needing to refuel. So, we're at the halfway point at Atlantis. We're just taking a stop having some refreshments and uh some selfies. These boats, they go pretty fast. They go up to 70 km an hour or 35 knots. They fit two people. Woo! Dubai's got some great cityscape sites that are best seen from the sea, but it's a completely different experience over in Abu Dhabi with it vast array of islands. So, onward I go. So, Abu Dhabi is really fantastic for marine life cuz

not only does it have over 200 islands which you can explore, but because of all the islands and the lagoons, the water is dead flat. So, it's almost like a lake. So, it's perfect for water sports. These islands are incredible. They're like tropical islands dotted all over around Abu Dhabi. And there's hardly anyone on them. The one I'm going to now is called Meer Island. So, I was hoping that I might find some nature here. Now, behind me is the Arabian Gazelle, which is very much like a deer. And to be honest, I've lived here 10 years and I've never seen one. So, it's quite rare to see them. But they have them here on our Maya Island. And these ones seem extremely tame because they're just rolling around having fun eating the grass and

don't seem to be bothered by me. But really spectacular. Now, this is just bliss. White sands, blue seas, amazing view of Abu Dhabi, Arabian gazels running around. And I've come here on quite a peaceful day. I imagine on the weekend it probably gets a lot more vibrant. But uh I'd love to stay here all evening, but I've got one more place I wanted to show you cuz this is a very shallow beach here. I can literally take the boat right up to the beach and just what you call beach it. I have to hit it dead on. Make sure I'm going straight. And here we go. This a sign of a gazelle. Yeah, that's fresh. They're still in here. Might have a chance of seeing some. Finally found one just in the bushes walking around

wild. It's really incredible. I mean, I'm surprised it didn't run away earlier because I was making quite a lot of noise going through the bushes and everything, but uh it seems very calm, you know, but uh it was great to actually find some, you know, real wildlife. Well, that's been a leisurely experience, but some pals of mine have another idea about what water sports is, and they know nothing about going slow. I'm talking about a UAE national homegrown treasure has taken over the world. >> Hey, >> how are you? >> How are you? >> I'm good. Wow, look at this. >> This is incredible. >> It is. >> You manufacture trophies or >> uh No, this is only part of the trophies we have. >> You won these? >> Yeah, we won. 30 years of

achievements. >> And how many trophies have you won? >> Um, if I can recall more than 590 59 >> 590 trophies in 30 years. Wow. And which is the biggest uh the biggest achievement? >> I think we can say the first championship we won in 1992. >> 92. >> Yes. >> And that was what uh world championship >> was world championship class one world champ. Some more. >> You've got more than this. >> We have definitely more than this. Oh, I can't you as part of the team guys, you need these to access. >> Check me out. Part of the victory team. This room here. So, >> and here all the designing the master lines here comes and designing the boat the power boats. Yes. >> So, everything is designed and manufactured here. >> Exactly.

Exactly. It's a fully UAE homegrown >> man. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. We We should have like coming from this. >> Oh, here we go. There's more trophies in here. >> You filled up even the gym. You've got more trophies up there. >> Exactly. >> Wow. >> So, you really don't have enough space in the warehouse. >> We don't have enough space for our trophies. >> Wow. Look at this. Really? They don't have enough space in the trophy room, in the kitchen, in the gym. So, they fill up this place. Wow. And some of these things like I would be honored to win any of these. >> This is 1991. This is 1990. This is what we call the beast room. >> Wow. >> This is the beast. >> The beast room. So these are the boats.

>> The sorry the 52. >> Incredible. So this is the this blue one is the one that has been winning all the big trophies. Right, we're in the workshop now where they I presume this is where they fix them all up and everything, >> right? Maintain them. Okay, tell me about these boats. This is This is the beast. >> One of the beast. I know. >> How many horsepower is this? Now, for the next race, we're going to go over 1,000 horsepower for uh >> 1,000 horsepower for each engine. So, the body will run with 2,000 >> plus horsepower. >> And so, how fast does that translate in speed? >> Maybe about uh 160 mph. >> 160 m. Wow. >> On the water, but I presume on the water cuz you're hitting the water, it

feels a lot. >> Yeah, it's a lot. >> Some of these things you make >> everything in Dubai. Everything is building houses. You build everything. >> Everything in house. This one. This one. B is built in house. Everything is built in. >> Wow. >> Everything is actually made from >> carbon. Carbon fiber. >> Yeah. This engine is is based on the Lamborghini V12, >> right? >> Because in the old days before Audi took over Lamborghini. They have the >> This doesn't look like a car engine. >> No, this one was special made for uh >> power boat. >> Yeah. Power boat or marine from Lamborghini. So, Lamborghini make engines not just for guys, but >> in those in the old days, >> this is in the old days. >> And what's the uh the trap

door at the bottom there? >> What's that for? >> It's called escape patch. >> Really? >> Yeah. That is a victory team pattern as well. >> Why do you need it on the bottom? >> Why? >> It flips over. >> Exactly. >> So, instead go out like this, which you have a lot of pressure for the water, you go out from there, >> right? That's not very reassuring. So, how often does it flip over? Yeah, it's happened. >> Yeah, it's happened. >> And so they've got to go unscrew the bottom. Go. >> Yeah. Basically, you are upside down. >> Yeah. >> You know, you have to untie your uh seat belt and and you are facing like this. You unlock that one and you walk on this one and you go out. But everything has

to happen in uh you know 10 seconds. >> So here in the cockpit, there's not a lot of space and it's not designed for big guys like me. Uh, so we got two seats and both drivers are equally important. In this seat, the guy's steering with the steering wheel and in this seat, the guy's doing the the rudder and the uh the engines. Now, the one thing that really petrifies me about this sport is not only do these things go up to 8 G's and they come out in the air, but you'll see in the bottom here, there's a trap door that they undo because if it flips over, obviously you can't get out of this way. You've got to unscrew there and get out. And they've got these uh these air things here just

in case because if this starts filling up with water, you're going to need air. So, this is a scary spot. Time for me to get out of here. Oh, it's not easy. Okay, so this is where the engines get tested. Are you Are you going to be able to test one out? >> Uh, I can do I can run this one out. >> Now, I know I've got a few screws loose, but I'm going to go stand in the engine room when they turn the engine on. I don't know why I'm doing this, but I don't know if these are going to help me at all. Heat. That is loud. That is so loud. Like even with these on, my ears are like I have no idea how two people can sit in the cockpit

with two of those engines behind them. What is this boat on now? >> This is an XCAD 32. Uh this is a luxury boat >> with a racing engine. So all the people who are thrilled for the speed want to try the experience we gave this boat. >> Ah so I can do this one. >> Yeah you Yeah. Ah that one the beast. >> Come on. >> Uh we need to see about this. We need to see about this. So >> go on. There I can get in there even just a 5 minutes. We've got the thumbs up that we can come up to Port Rashid and check out the victory team while they practice. Now, I still don't know I'm going to get a chance to go in, but you can hear them behind

me and they're coming along. And the wake on the back of this boat is incredible. So, I'm here on top of the class one. Just been spinning around Port Rashid. And uh they're changing the propeller now to try out different propellers for different speeds. This is the last chance we've got because after this they take the boat for the racing season over to the US and then it's gone from Dubai for the rest of the year. the chance of me getting >> a You still want to go? >> Come on. I really want to go. I really want to go. >> Come on. I need to go. It looks amazing. >> It's going to be really dangerous. Yeah. >> In the driving seat. All right. My life is in your hands, buddy. All >> right.

You good? This is the steering. Keep it straight. Always. >> Okay. Okay. Now I start the engine. Okay. I'm ready to go. Sure. >> I'm ready, baby. Let's do it. Heat. Amazing, man. Amazing. Really? Wow. This is a blood sport, man. >> Wow. That was incredible. Wa. I can't believe no. >> Woo. The speed of that thing. Hang on. Let me get this off. I can't hear anything. Oh, now I can hear. That was unbelievable. We went 130 mph along that. I'm doing the steering. Woo. That's incredible. I could do that all day long. Thank you so much. >> That was a pleasure. 130 miles an hour is 130 mph, but when you go along the water, you really feel feel it, you know, and uh although the boat doesn't shake around very much, so

it's very flat. But that was that was a big tick off the old bucket list. So I'm here with the drivers of this thing, Ali Salah, Medidi, and these guys know nothing about going slow. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to go in it. >> So hopefully you can see some of my inspirations for rowing across the vast Pacific Ocean. We certainly weren't going as fast as the victory team were, though. That would have been great fun. But if that's inspired you also, then get out on the water and I'll see you next time. Heat. Heat.