To say that easy going East Ender, Steven Hayward, has fun in the sun is an understatement! He loves the outdoors, has a tan, and enjoys sporting around on his Kawasaki II ZX jet ski when he isn’t running the family Esso Station at Rose Hill.

“I always wanted a jet ski from the moment I spied one when I was a college boy in the late 1970s. I thought they looked like a lot of fun and each time I saw one my pulse would race a bit.”

When he returned home to Bermuda to work in the family business there was a German yachtsman visiting Bermuda and his jet ski had an accident with a motor yacht. The jet ski needed a new hull and one was ordered from Germany but when it came the yachtsman thought it was far too big to put aboard his yacht. Naturally, the yachtsman was acquainted with the gregarious Mr. Hayward and one day he went to the gas station with the parts in a huge box. He sold the jet ski and the boxed parts to Mr. Hayward who was very happy except for one minor detail — the instructions were all in German! “I obtained the help of a friend, ‘Brazilian George’ at Dowling’s Marine and Auto and we put the jet ski together, from scratch, in two or three days. When I put the Kawasaki over at Meyer’s Beach I felt like a 16-year-old teenager on a new motor bike! It was so much fun and exhilarating! I will never forget that wonderful experience,” Mr. Hayward said. The fantastic thing about motoring about on a jet ski is easy manoeuvrability in tight areas around the rocks and even entrances to caves at areas such as Harrington Sound.

“I can go places that my Dad can’t consider with his motor yacht and when a storm comes up I can tow my little jet ski home and keep a watchful eye on it without fretting,” he said.

Two of Mr. Hayward’s favourite places to visit are beautiful Castle Island and into quaint Tom Moore’s Bay. These two places offer very different views as Castle is open to the sea and Tom Moore’s Bay is very protected and tranquil with lots of old time fishing boats. Some of the places that he has discovered on his jet ski, particular coves and entrances to caves, are filled with beautiful fishes and sea anemone.

“Generally I remain in awe of the sea creatures in Bermuda, especially the fishes and the reefs. I just putt around going about three miles per hour and browse everything. I am passionate about observing nature.”

Mr. Hayward doesn’t just watch fish, he adores observing the beautiful houses and docks dotted along waterfront properties, especially those at Tucker’s Town, Flatts and Harrington Sound.

“You see things from the water’s edge that you would never see from the roadside. One of my favourite houses is one called ‘Bananas’ along Harrington Sound as it is very pretty.”

Safety is key to having fun on a jet ski and you should check your oil and gas and make sure your engine is pumping water before your adventure begins. Also it is a good idea to have a small anchor on a rope, extra rope in the event you need a tow, safety flares, and a horn. A jet ski should be 100 yards out from the shore to avoid endangering swimmers.