Yamaha Launch The New Insane 2025 Waverunners in Portimao

When Yamaha invites you to southern Portugal for a weekend of Waverunner mayhem, you don’t ask questions. You say yes, you pack your loudest swimwear, and you prepare for thrills.

The Setting: Portimão

Portimão — a sun-drenched, yacht-dotted playground on the Algarve coast. The kind of place where bronzed retirees sip vintage rosé while tech millionaires rev their tenders like they're in Fast & Furious: Mediterranean Drift.

But this weekend wasn’t about lounging. Yamaha had rolled into town, bringing with them an armada of personal watercraft, an entourage of aquatic daredevils, and one Nic von Rupp — big wave surfer, Yamaha ambassador, and the man you want on speed dial if you're ever caught in 30-metre surf with only your regret for company.

Dinner, Drinks & Death-Defying Surf Films

Our first evening kicked off at the charming Marina Portimão resort hotel, where we were welcomed by Yamaha’s delightfully sharp European marketing director. He walked us through the weekend itinerary — equal parts adrenaline, education, and extreme hydration.

Then it was over to Nic, who treated us to clips from his surf film Brusco, featuring waves the size of small office buildings, a lot of Portuguese swearing, and an underlying message: if you fall off out there, you really, really want a Yamaha rescue ski nearby.

He spoke of the unrelenting power of Nazaré — Portugal’s famously bonkers wave — where surfers get whipped into aquatic oblivion and need extracting in seconds. Yamaha Waverunners are the silent heroes in this maelstrom, darting in, pulling them out, and heading back before the next watery skyscraper tries to kill everyone.

High-Speed Rescue: My Brush with Nic von Rupp — The Wave Whisperer

The next morning, we were up early and zipped into wetsuits, ready to experience the world of aquatic rescue firsthand. By which I mean I was thrown off a boat into the Atlantic and left bobbing like a half-inflated buoy. I had been volunteered as the drowning victim in a high-speed rescue demo. One moment I’m floating in the sea like a confused seal, the next, Nic comes charging towards me on the Yamaha FX — a sleek, 250-horsepower beast — grabs my hand like a lifeguard in a Hollywood film, and drags me onto the rescue sled.
“Clear!” I shout (feeling very professional), and he takes off like he’s fleeing the Coast Guard.

I held on for dear life, saltwater smashing into my face as Nic hit full throttle. It was like being yanked through a carwash by a Formula 1 pit crew. The power. The acceleration. The sheer torque. My ribs felt like I’d gone ten rounds with Tyson.

The sled behind the FX acts like a magic carpet — assuming your idea of magic includes being waterboarded by Poseidon. I grinned like an idiot the whole time. Saltwater in every orifice, yes, but bliss nonetheless.

Then came the true madness: Nic handed me the tow rope.

Waterskiing Behind a Waverunner — What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

If you’ve never waterskied at high speed behind a pro surfer on a Waverunner, I highly recommend it — preferably with good health insurance and a strong sense of humour.

We flew around the bay, slicing through waves, my legs barely attached to the rest of my body. Nic behind the bars, me being dragged at high speed around the bay, carving waves and pirouetting on spray. The G-forces pulled my arms from their sockets, but I didn’t care. It was pure, symphonic chaos.

Then, because we clearly hadn’t reached full insanity, Nic towed me all the way back to the marina — at speed. Tourists clapped. Children pointed. I waved back like some sort of sunburnt aquatic messiah.

The Yamaha FX Cruiser SVHO — A Floating Supercar

After a quick regroup (read: lying flat on my back and counting the bruises), I mounted Yamaha’s most luxurious sea beast: the FX Cruiser SVHO. This is a Waverunner for those who believe luxury should travel at 100 km/h.

I was quickly up to 100 km/h, slicing through chop, bouncing across the surface like a caffeinated dolphin. The FX Cruiser doesn’t just handle well — it glides with power and poise, soaking up the waves like it’s on hydraulics.

We blasted through foam and fury, the Atlantic delivering two-metre swells that launched us airborne and thumped us back into the chop with delightful violence. At this level, every moment is white-knuckle. Every crest a leap of faith. Every rider a gladiator.

In motion, it feels more Rolls-Royce than rocket — a smooth, stable ride with the composure to handle open sea swell and the aggression to outrun your bad decisions. It’s luxury with an edge. A gentleman’s watercraft — if that gentleman also enjoys the occasional high-speed aquatic flight.

The onboard sound system is so good I cued up Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries and led 15 screaming JetBlasters into battle. The speakers even adjust volume based on your speed. Pure evil genius.

FX Cruiser SVHO Specs - Luxury Cruising at Speed

– Supercharged 1.8-litre, four-cylinder, four-stroke marine engine
– 250 horsepower (Yamaha’s most powerful engine to date)
– Cruiser-style three-person seating with bolstered backrests
– And the glorious RiDE® system — which basically lets you brake and reverse like a Waverunner Jedi.
– 7-inch full-colour Connext® touchscreen with GPS, audio, and custom ride modes
– Built-in Bluetooth speakers and 166 litres of storage
– Cup holders (for your Veuve, naturally)

The Great Yamaha GP HO Safari — 15 Machines, One Ocean, Zero Chill

After lunch (grilled sea bass, stunning view, questionable tan lines), it was time for the Yamaha safari. This time on the Yamaha GP HO. For those less concerned with sipping Chablis at anchor and more obsessed with speed, the GP HO is Yamha’s competition-grade, no-nonsense water rocket.

It uses the same 1.8L engine as the FX, but with a lightweight NanoXcel2 hull and race-tuned performance.

What followed was less "scenic cruise" and more aquatic Isle of Man TT. Fifteen Waverunners skimming, jumping, and tearing across the coastline at speeds that demanded prayer and core strength. We ducked behind rocks, flirted with cliffs, and bounced off waves with the kind of thudding joy only true thrill-seekers understand.

We roared out of the estuary and along the Algarve coastline, carving turns, leaping waves, and overtaking each other with the sort of reckless glee usually reserved for Italian driving instructors.

The GP HO is Yamaha’s high-performance machine — built for speed, precision, and bragging rights. It hugs corners like a jet-powered go-kart and handles tight manoeuvres like it’s wired into your brain. I clocked 104 km/h and could have gone faster, but the camera crew at the end of the course looked very nervous every time I came close, begging the RIB captain to move further away.

The Yamaha GP HO Specs— Race-Ready Precision
– High-performance intake grate and ride plate
– Race-inspired seat and handlebars
– Customisable Launch Control system
– RiDE® braking and reverse
– Top speed of around 110 km/h
– Brutal, brain-rattling acceleration

Enter the SuperJet — A Stand-Up, Sit-Down, Fall-Off Kind of Experience

Then, Yamaha handed me the keys (figuratively) to the SuperJet. If the FX Cruiser is your Bentley, the SuperJet is your untamed Ducati with no seatbelt and a bad attitude. It’s a stand-up ski — the original, the legend. And it’s utterly bonkers. This machine is pure lunacy. A stand-up, single-seater Waverunner designed for stunts, flips, and unintentionally spectacular wipeouts.

You kneel, grab the handlebars, punch the throttle, and hope your knees survive the G-force. Balance is everything. It’s like trying to ride a unicycle on a trampoline in a hurricane. It’s unhinged. It’s magnificent. It’s an Olympic workout on water. Ex-world champ Willem from Holland looked on like a proud uncle as I hurled myself across the waves, often more airborne than afloat. The crashes were theatrical, the thrills addictive.

But when it clicks — when you lean into a turn and shoot out of it in a perfect arc — it’s magic. Chaotic, salty, glorious magic. (Though my knees may never recover.)

SuperJet Specs - Airborne Acrobatics

– 1,049cc 4-stroke TR-1® marine engine
– Adjustable steering pole (spring-assisted, 3-position)
– Lightweight, agile hull with wide front section
– Axial Flow 144mm jet pump with adjustable nozzle
– Automatic bilge system
– HydroTurf anti-slip mat
– Large 19-litre fuel tank
– Learning mode for power-limited training sessions

The JetBlaster Pro — Let’s Get Tricky

By late afternoon, with muscles aching and dignity in tatters, I climbed aboard the JetBlaster Pro — Yamaha’s mischievous middle child.

It has foot chokes (yes, really), wider handlebars, and an electric trim system that lifts the nose like a rearing stallion. You can practically wheelie it. I spent an hour learning to do 180s, spray nearby riders, and nearly remove my own knees.

And the moment you set the trim just right? The Waverunner practically stands on its tail, roaring upright like it’s trying to defy physics.

The JetBlaster Pro is trickster heaven. That electric trim lets you hoist the nose vertical and show off like a rockstar. It’s nimble, cheeky, and loves being thrown about. Though beware — the Pro is built for agility, not stability. If you want something a bit more composed for coastal cruising, go for the JetBlaster or JetBlaster DLX.

Whichever you choose, all JetBlasters are engineered for maximum thrills and minimum fuss. And yes — they’re budget-friendlier, but still punch well above their price point. Think of them as the Aston Martin Vantage of the sea.

JetBlaster Pro Specs - The Trickster
– 1,049cc High Output TR-1® engine
– NanoXcel2 lightweight hull
– RiDE® control system with T.D.E. (Thrust Directional Enhancement)
– Foot chokes for advanced stunts
– Electric trim system
– Compact 4.3-inch colour display
– Reboarding step and watertight storage

Why Yamaha Wins at Water-Based Luxury

This wasn’t just a weekend of watery fun. It was a full immersion (pun very much intended) into Yamaha’s world — where performance meets reliability, and luxury never means compromise.

Whether you're hauling surfers out of Nazaré’s 30-metre turbulence, slicing through Mediterranean swells, or exploring hidden coves with a bottle of Dom on standby, Yamaha has a machine for the job.

The FX Cruiser SVHO is for the refined speed enthusiast.
The GP HO is for racers.
The SuperJet is for skilled thrill-seekers.
The JetBlaster Pro? Pure aquatic anarchy.

Forget the Yacht — This Is Real Waterborne Luxury

There’s something primal, something wildly liberating about riding a Waverunner at 100 km/h — wind screaming, sea boiling, adrenaline pumping.

Yes, tricks are fun. But skis are also the ultimate way to explore. They get you to pristine beaches unreachable by boat, let you cruise from one chic bar to another, and immerse you in the raw, beautiful power of the sea. No gunwale. No barriers. Just you, the engine, and the ocean.

That’s not just a ride — it’s a genuine aquatic safari. It’s the kind of memory you’ll relive by the fire, cocoa in hand, long after summer fades.

So next time someone says, “We’re taking the yacht out,”
just smile and say,

“No thanks. I’ll be blasting across the bay on something far more fun.”