Yellow Buoys in Osborne Bay

[ShinyShoe]

But if someone drowns and its deemed the yellow markers encouraged them to swim further out because they implied it was safe to go that far then that could be EH's issue...

[L'escargot]

The bay only shelves gradually. The area is approximately 300 yards across and 400 yards out. At least half of it dries, more on springs. At low tide you can stand up in most of it.

[DGR]

I doubt that putting yellow markers out could construe 'an enticement' to swim. If there was the slightest risk that councils/EH were actually responsible, they'd have someone checking your swimming certificate to see how well people can swim before they go into the water, or provide lifeguards (i.e. like a swimming pool - which probably does form an 'enticement' to swim!!).

Having said that - we get muppets swimming in the main harbour channel, even though there are boats and jetskis coming and going at speed, and there are red flags flying permanently on that section.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

I agree that beaches dont all have safety cover, but this has been marked as a swimming area after opening said beach to the paying public and therefore they will have a vicarious liability (I believe)

Almost certainly not vicariously!

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

But if someone drowns and its deemed the yellow markers encouraged them to swim further out because they implied it was safe to go that far then that could be EH's issue...

The yellow buoys don't show how far out it is safe to swim, they show the "exclusion" zone where boats should not (according to EH) be in order to ensure swimmer-boat segregation. Unless they have stupidly (and rather unlikely) signposted it as "safe swim area" on the shore then I doubt they have any liability.

[tim griffin]

EH has a duty of care to the paying members of the public that are allowed to use the beach.
This could be in the way of signs warning of the dangers.
Flags to reinforce the above
Supervision to ensure the safety of the swimmers ie Lifeguards or patrols


I am sure they have read Bsops by the RLSS UK and ROSPA and have NOP and EAP in place .

I think EH were abit over the top in trying to stop people anchoring as they have no rights below the low water mark .

Shall watch to see how this develops over the coming months .
Tim

[boristhebold]

Would be interested to hear what Osbourne House people say the yellow marker buoys are, sounds like they have been moved further out, are they calling it a safe swimming area ? someone mentioned tidal flow could be an issue if so have they inadvertaintly made the swimming zone more dangerous rather than safer ?

People around our coasts are used to the yellow buoys just off the beach and the swimming zones so perhaps these yellow bouys are going to make people think its a no boating area when in fact it's not and hence swimmers are not going to be expecting boats in that area to their peril ?

[m chappelow]

yellow bouys in our area mark special intrest hazards ,tide information bouys , pipe outfalls, shallow spits or shallow water ,
wondering if EH are hoping to play that card as it was mentioned that the beach is shallow at low water .
Also who is paying for the permanant lit bouys , the Harbour authority or EH.

[chris.moody]

Visited Osborne Bay on Saturday. The yellow buoys have been replaced with smaller buoys (presumably to stop people using them as mooring buoys). These have "private beach swim area" printed on them.

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by chris.moody

Visited Osborne Bay on Saturday. The yellow buoys have been replaced with smaller buoys (presumably to stop people using them as mooring buoys). These have "private beach swim area" printed on them.

Are they stills long way out? Certainly were way out for swimming area before

[James Slatter]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Are they stills long way out? Certainly were way out for swimming area before

We were there on Sunday. No swimmers in sight and drifted on the tide right round the bay. Couple of yachts anchored to the west of the bay. Think there are more swimmers from boats anchored in the bay rather than from the beach and don't think they would venture more than 50 yards front the shore anyway. Bouys must be the best part of 300 meters from the shore. Brave swimmer to be out there when the tide is running.

[chris.moody]

Ian, I cannot remember exactly how far out they were before, but it is a long way from the beach.

I guess EH are in effect promoting swimming that far out as safe, by marking it off as a specific swim area. How long before someone tries swimming that far out and gets swept away by the tide? We all know how fast the tide can run there.

[gtb]

Resurrecting this thread as I plan to go over to Osborne Bay this weekend for a jolly with the family.

Anyone been nearby this season? Yellow buoys and shouty man still there?

The RYA website advice seems to be still valid - that sensible manouvering and anchoring within the buoyed area is permitted.

[Ralphy]

I was there a month or so ago, they were still there. I don't know about a shouty man, it was being able to see the floor which made us turn around.

[whisper]

From memory the buoys say its a swimming area?

[Ralphy]

I believe you're right, it wasn't me driving at the time.