Jetskiers at Baiter slipway in Poole

Nos4r2 · 25 April 2010, 13:14

Just sent this email to Poole Harbour commissioners. Hopefully someone will take some notice.
Anyone else had problems with them there? I think it's time for a concerted campaign to highlight this issue before someone is seriously hurt or killed by these irresponsible cretins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by me

To whom it may concern,

As a regular user of Baiter Park slipway I must congratulate you on providing such a well laid out,reasonably priced facility with excellent services.
However I feel I must draw your attention to the appalling behaviour of jetskiers directly next to the slipway on weekend afternoons.
Every time without exception that I have recovered my boat there I have struggled to avoid damage to my boat due to 3 or more jetskis using the slip as an area to practice various tricks and generally race about at speeds far in excess of the 10 knot limit causing significant wash by constantly stop/starting.

Yesterday (24th April 2010,1535hrs) however was far worse.The slipway was extremely hard to use because the wash of 3 or 4 jetskis stop/starting was constantly hitting it. To add to this,one PWC crossed the slipway itself at full throttle within ten feet of me while I was struggling to line my boat up with the trailer, spraying me with his wake.
During this display the Poole Harbour Commission representative was present in the permit hut at the carpark and did nothing.
All of the PWCs concerned are displaying registration numbers which unfortunately I was unable to note due to being in the process of recovering my boat.

I am concerned that the current behaviour will cause a fatality caused by a PWC coming into contact with a slipway user and ask that the use of PWCs is banned from the area around the slipway-ie, 'launch and leave'. There is a perfectly adequate PWC area next to Brownsea and I cannot understand why they are not actively encouraged to use it.

Yours sincerely

.....

BogMonster · 25 April 2010, 13:33

Do jetskis have to have insurance? - what if one did hit somebody/something?

Nos4r2 · 25 April 2010, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Do jetskis have to have insurance? - what if one did hit somebody/something?

Yep, have to have permits,ID numbers, insurance etc to launch at Baiter.

Insurance isn't any comfort if you're the injured party though.

Channel Ribs · 25 April 2010, 13:46

It might be worth mentioning it to the Police, the marine division use jetskiis and they are keen to promote their safe use.

Steve_B · 25 April 2010, 17:54

Nos, I sent a letter very similar letter last year. The general behavior is dreadful, and caused us so much stress during launch and recovery that we stopped using it, dispite having a yearly permit.

The guy in the office does absolutely nothing, a joke him even being there. I suggested a seperate slip way for the jetskis.

Whilst I hope you get a result, my letter was not even acknowledged. It would seem to be too much trouble to sort.

Steve

Andy B · 25 April 2010, 18:05

get the same problem at hythe marina!
you get 3 or 4 ski's that never leave the area of the slip because of the croud of twenty mates that have come down to watch them twat around.
and thats in the 6 knot zone

Channel Ribs · 25 April 2010, 18:43

Give it a fortnight and if no response talk to a reporter, they will no doubt love a chance to have a dig at authority - who it seems are ignoring a matter of public safety.

I still think an informal word to the Police marine guys might help.

Nos4r2 · 25 April 2010, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

Give it a fortnight and if no response talk to a reporter, they will no doubt love a chance to have a dig at authority - who it seems are ignoring a matter of public safety.

I still think an informal word to the Police marine guys might help.

You might be right.

I'll give it 3 days and ring PHC first though.

bradosh · 25 April 2010, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Do jetskis have to have insurance? - what if one did hit somebody/something?

u dead

Nos4r2 · 25 April 2010, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradosh

u dead

Only a matter of time before it happens too.

Jimbo · 25 April 2010, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Only a matter of time before it happens too.

Has happened elsewhere...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/199425.stm

bradosh · 25 April 2010, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Only a matter of time before it happens too.

last season down at buchan beach the council jet ski was on the water patrolling
this seemed to send the right message out.
to be honest the jet skiers down there stick to the speed limits within the yellow buoys.
unfortunataly it only takes one idiot to type cast them all

Channel Ribs · 25 April 2010, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Only a matter of time before it happens too.

The Harbour staff probably have to go on a course in order to get a step ladder out, yet cannot do anything about a life endangering situation right under their nose.

Nos4r2 · 25 April 2010, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradosh

last season down at buchan beach the council jet ski was on the water patrolling
this seemed to send the right message out.
to be honest the jet skiers down there stick to the speed limits within the yellow buoys.
unfortunataly it only takes one idiot to type cast them all

Trouble is, in Poole it's as many skis next to the slip playing the pratt as you see out for the whole of the rest of the day.

Searider · 25 April 2010, 21:11

Hi Nos,

Good letter but would be better if you had found out who the Harbour Master is and addressed it to him. A "Dear Sir" might not get to anyone. You can then phone him after a week asking why no reply.

Also, it doesn't ask a question - so doesn't need a reply. Better to ask what procedures they have in place to prevent the behaviour you've seen etc.

I quite like the TV presenter angle suggested. Sally Simmons at ITV south would be interested in a jaunt down to Poole I reckon.

Nos4r2 · 25 April 2010, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searider

Hi Nos,

Good letter but would be better if you had found out who the Harbour Master is and addressed it to him. A "Dear Sir" might not get to anyone. You can then phone him after a week asking why no reply.

Also, it doesn't ask a question - so doesn't need a reply. Better to ask what procedures they have in place to prevent the behaviour you've seen etc.

I quite like the TV presenter angle suggested. Sally Simmons at ITV south would be interested in a jaunt down to Poole I reckon.

Good plan. I've re-sent the email,slightly modified.

Searider · 25 April 2010, 21:19

Had a problem in Cowes during Cowes week a couple of years ago - trip boats berthing agressively next to the rib pool. Broke my light mast off the A frame. Sent an e-mail to the Harbour Master at 0200 when we got home and had a reply by 1000 in the morning promising to have more staff down there - and there were!

Nos4r2 · 25 April 2010, 21:33

That's good to hear!

Does anyone else who's had problems there fancy emailing them? The email is harbourmaster@phc.co.uk (freely available on PHC site, so can't see any problems with posting it here) and his name is Cdr Peter Booth.

BogMonster · 25 April 2010, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradosh

u dead

That wasn't exactly what I meant

I'd figured that bit out...

tonymac · 25 April 2010, 22:01

What about swamping the place with ribs one weekend?