What is it with this country and racing/fun?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Seems like we can't organise anything here yet a simple YouTube search gives up some awesome racing/stuff around the world.

The long beach to Catalina races look great, from jet skis to 42ft race boats towing skiers! [emoji1][emoji1]

Then in Australia there's the tinny racing in rivers and skiers doing 130mph, lunatics yes, but what a spectacle.

It's as if other countries are just having much more fun!

[willk]

I agree that younger, bigger, fitter (and probably blonder) countries have more fun.

[willk]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Seems like we can't organise anything here yet a simple YouTube search gives up some awesome racing/stuff around the world.

Surely it's about (lack of) sponsorship? The wealth in some of those countries is mind-blowing and the big boys are happy to spread it about a bit for a bit of fun. "Business" in the UK likes to do something a bit more "worthy" with the few spare squids and "Finance" wouldn't spare the steam off their p1$$...

[jonp]

That's why I emegrated

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by jonp

That's why I emegrated

[emoji106]

[69cmw]

[willk]

Originally Posted by 69cmw

Attachment 116931

LOL - that fake photo always cracks me up. I mean, they have no land border to place it inside and anyway, it's certainly untrue - plenty of wasters in Australia Long-Term Unemployment In Australia Rises, Affects Overall Wellbeing

AND they still need thousands of workers from elsewhere each year to do the jobs they won't do themselves, like construction and agri.

[m3mm0s rib]

The race is a matter of temperament and not wealth.

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Seems like we can't organise anything here yet a simple YouTube search gives up some awesome racing/stuff around the world.

The long beach to Catalina races look great, from jet skis to 42ft race boats towing skiers! [emoji1][emoji1]

Then in Australia there's the tinny racing in rivers and skiers doing 130mph, lunatics yes, but what a spectacle.

It's as if other countries are just having much more fun!

It's quite a big sport here, with clubs all around the country....

RACING - British Water Ski and Wakeboard

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Seems like we can't organise anything here yet a simple YouTube search gives up some awesome racing/stuff around the world.

The long beach to Catalina races look great, from jet skis to 42ft race boats towing skiers! [emoji1][emoji1]

Then in Australia there's the tinny racing in rivers and skiers doing 130mph, lunatics yes, but what a spectacle.

It's as if other countries are just having much more fun!

Elf'n safety, weather, availability of cheap fuel & disposable income [emoji849]

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Elf'n safety, weather, availability of cheap fuel & disposable income [emoji849]

Actually whilst funding might be an issue, and I am sure weather is, I suspect it's more to do with the fact people would rather post on the Internet complaining about "the country" and "nobody doing anything exciting" than actually get off their sofa and organise something themselves!

[m3mm0s rib]

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Poly

Actually whilst funding might be an issue, and I am sure weather is, I suspect it's more to do with the fact people would rather post on the Internet complaining about "the country" and "nobody doing anything exciting" than actually get off their sofa and organise something themselves!

There could be some of that involved, but as someone who has tried to organise events in the past (not particularly boating related) you tend to run up against a wall of bureaucracy & issues with permissions/insurance/access & eventually think feck it & give up. When you do manage to overcome the aforesaid obstacles, you then find that all the initial potential participants have suddenly got to return their library books on that day, or visit their sick granny.

[jonp]

It seems to of gone a little crazy here the last few years, a small 5m tinny used to be adequate where now the trailer boat anglers opt for 6.5m boats with up to twin 300 4strokes and a 750 lt fuel tank for a days fishing.

When I left the UK I was earning £150 per week for one of the oldest established building firms in the Uk. I took up a much easier job laying bricks on high rise apartments for $2400 ( one dollar had about the same buying powere as one pound). Within 6 months I owned a 4x4, new boat and had my first mortgage.

10 years on I retired from the building at the age of 40 and bought a beautiful home on the edge of a lake on the coast. If was still in the UK I would still be struggling with rent and not been able to give my 3 kids anything like the lifestyle they are used to.

Jon

[MatFromPoland]

Strange ... A lot of people from Poland go to UK for better salary ...

By the way. It have to be race ?
I have been told that RIB is perfect for Sea-keeping performance but not for race.
If weather is the issue maybe some meeting in Greece or Croatia ?

I can voluntary help to find free place in Marina in Greece.
It be nice to meet in warm environment persons which I know only from internet. Jeff goes every year to Paxos (Greece) and I'm going to make (with family) 100 km trip to visit him (from Mitikas in front of Lefkas island) by my boat.

It be the second person from RIB.net (first one was Andre which I met at Polish boat show). You have long distance. But from UK to Venice it is quite good and safe trip I suppose. And there is ferry from Venice to Igumenisa (Greece).

[Mextli]

Originally Posted by MatFromPoland

Strange ... A lot of people from Poland go to UK for better salary ...

By the way. It have to be race ?
I have been told that RIB is perfect for Sea-keeping performance but not for race.

There's some very fast RIBs that are used in racing as well.

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by MatFromPoland

Strange ... A lot of people from Poland go to UK for better salary ...

Yes we're well aware of that.....

[Maximus]

I'm not sure how many of you get out very much....but the UK caters for all tastes!...And budgets!...
From the World leaders in Motorsport of all kinds ranging from F1 (and the other Formula's) to Saloon Cars Stock cars Raleigh Sports ..at many levels..Grass track ...Banger Racing to Soap Box and even the world lawn mower champs..ect ect ect!!
GP Bike racing...In loads of class's ..The wonderful Isle of Man TT to Trialing and Motorcross ...Quad and Dune buggy racing...Watersports such as Offshore Powerboating to Zapcats and Kyak Canoeing! Gigg racing...Round World Yaght events to single handed sail events...
I HAVE seen the Top water skiers doing over a ton at the World Championships...at Lyme Regis!
Just a few off the Top of my head,there being many many other regular organised events and sports of All kinds!
In fact We had a Hand In...or indeed. invented many many now world wide renowned sports/pastimes played and enjoyed by countless millions all over the World!..from the ubiquitous Football...Rugby and Cricket to..World Champioship Conkers and Stone skimming and Nettle eating!
Oh and we don't do too bad at the Olympic stuff when you consider our population size either!..the Aussies will tell you that.
For a small Island our influence has been immense far reaching and long lasting!..maybe as some have said doing is harder than knocking stuff!..but NOT thankfully for everyone!
Oh..and we invented RIBs too!

[GuyC]

All the above is true but we do now live in a very risk averse environment and trying to do something where all the risk assessments haven't had all the i's dotted and t's crossed is very difficult.

I regularly get e-mails from accident injury specialists offering their help just on the off chance I might have been involved in an accident. It's no wonder members of the public are wary.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by GuyC

All the above is true but we do now live in a very risk averse environment and trying to do something where all the risk assessments haven't had all the i's dotted and t's crossed is very difficult.

I regularly get e-mails from accident injury specialists offering their help just on the off chance I might have been involved in an accident. It's no wonder members of the public are wary.

I agree the Nanny State...Risk averse society we live in,can sometimes be tiresome...but it has ofcourse in many circumstances Merit too...and if you're keen enough to get things done you'll wade through the swamp of Legalise and regs...to reach the "Sunny Uplands" of friendly charactor building competition/endeavours/protects with like minded people whatever you're into.
Like most things in Life the more you put in the more you get out!
Ofcourse you can just sit back and moan too!...we do have some world class moaners too after all!