E’Mari Ingemann is making waves on the local powerboat racing scene.

The 16-year-old driver continues to punch above his weight racing with his father, Jahcai Morris, in the latter’s B class Phantom boat.

Ingemann took up his father’s invitation to compete with him and turned heads racing behind the wheel on his senior debut.

It turned out to be an exhilarating and memorable experience that the Berkeley Institute student will cherish for ever.

“It was exciting and definitely a learning experience,” Ingemann told The Royal Gazette.

“My dad asked me if I wanted to race and I said ‘yes’ and we went from there. It’s special racing with my dad because it’s just quality time.”

The teenager held his own on his senior debut despite of a lack of experience racing in bigger class boats.

“When I got in the boat, it felt way different than the junior programme boats. The steering was more difficult and I had to learn how to turn slowly and fast at the same time because the big boats need more room to turn or else they will flip over, unlike the junior boats,” he said.

“I am still getting adjusted to things, but I am learning.”

Ingemann is only the second athlete to step up from the Bermuda Power Boat Association’s junior programme since its relaunch in 2021.

He enrolled in the junior programme three years ago, initially grooming his budding skills in the European-design GT15 boat.

“It was fun and I was just so anxious and excited to get in the boat. It was thrilling going fast — I just felt free on the water,” Ingemann recalled.

“The junior programme helped me grow and now it’s easier for me to drive the big boats.”

Janae Nesbitt, the BPBA commodore, is happy to see the progress the teenager has made over the past three years.

“E’Mari has improved tremendously since inception as he was quite timid to now jumping in the big boat with his father as driver and co-pilot,” she said.

Ingemann will not be involved in the Annual Rubis Around the Island Race on Sunday, but if all goes accordingly he hopes to make his debut in the prestigious race next year.

“I am not ready for all of that yet,” he said. “But I hope to compete in it next year. I think it will be fun.”