UK PWC News

UK Personal Watercraft News

23rd June : Hartlepool Maritime Festival Is Back.

Hartlepool Maritime Festival is back for 2006, on the 1st and 2nd July.

The festival is a celebration of Hartlepool’s rich heritage and everything maritime.

Following the Tees Valley Tall Ships visit last year, the festival is back for 2006, bigger and better than ever.

Claire Munroe from Hartlepool Council says,"The programme of entertainment, which is mostly free, will take place on land, on the water and even in the sky!

"It's also the perfect event to show festival-goers from far and wide how Hartlepool is evolving into a tourist destination.

This year's theme is 'Window on the World', and includes:

• French & Continental Market
• International Walkabout Street Theatre
• Water Sports, Dragon Boat Race & Jetski Stunts
• Performances on Tall Ships
• Mini HM Bark Endeavour Boat Trips
• World Music Stage
• Community Performance Stage
• Daylight Firework Display, Funfair and Craft Marquee
• Red Devils Parachute Display

Most of the events are free, and the next festival is in 2008 so make the most of it this year.

BBC Tees

22nd June : JSRA British Championship Results.
The Jetsport Racing Association British Championship Results from Round 3 are now online.
Check them out at...
www.jsra.co.uk

21st June : European Championship On TV.
Round two of the Corona European Jetski Championship goes to air on Motors TV (Sky Channel 413 ) beginning Friday 23rd June at 19.00.
The best jetski competitors from around the world come to Austria to compete in the toughest championship in the world.
The half hour program is then repeated at the following times.
Sunday 25th June 10:30
Monday 26th June 07:00
Monday 26th June 18:30
www.motorstv.com

21st June : JSRA British Championship Round 3 Pics.
A selection of Jetmans photos from Round 3 of the 2006 JSRA British Championship are now online.
Check them out in the photo gallery.

17th June : Unique Rius Photo Won.
Congratulations to Jordan Lamb who was bagged himself a unique signed action print of Nicolas Rius in the latest JMUK Competition.
Jordan answered correctly that Nicolas has been crowned European Champion a staggering fifteen times after visiting www.nicolasrius.com and searching out the answer.
The signed Jetman print of Nicolas aboard his Yamaha Superjet at the 2006 European Tour stop in Spain and the one pictured here showing Nicolas with the Print is on its way.
Well Done
Watch out for further chances to grab yourself some Unique Jetsport Memorabilia.

16th June : Girls That Ride Pics.
A selection of Jetmans photos taken at Nitrojet for the Girls That Ride feature in the current edition of Jetskier and PW are now online.
Check them out in the photo gallery.

15th June : Jetskier & Personal Watercraft Magazine.
The July Edition of JS&PW is on sale from all the usual stockists priced £3.20. Included in this edition are all the usual sections plus a Stand-Up Shoot Out, Fast Girls in Rubber, Where To Ski, Racing from Tattershall, An Absolute Beginner does his RYA, Win A Boat, your FREE Where To Launch And Train Guide and much more.
Get Yours Now!

13th June : British Championship DVD.
Released this weekend to coincide with the third round of the JSRA 2006 British Championship is the first in a series of jetsport DVD's of the tour.
The 90 minute DVD filmed and produced by MJB Graphics features the best of the action from round two at Tattershall Country Park last month.
As well as the Racing the disk includes Freestyle footage, rider interviews and bonus material from a walkabout in the pits.
The DVD is fully interactive so if you want to jump straight to a particular race or section you can click the link on the menu screen.
Priced at £14.99 the DVD will initially be available to purchase at Nitrojet for round three and then after at selected dealers or online.
www.mjbgraphics.co.uk

10th June : EJSBA European Championship Results.
Results from the second round of the EJSBA Corona European Jetski Championship held in Austria are now online.
Check them out at...
www.ejsba.net

9th June : Tide Turns Against Porty Jetskiers.

NOISY jetskiers on Portobello beach have sparked a campaign for a clampdown on their use along Scotland's coastlines.

Nearly two hundred supporters have signed a parliamentary motion lodged by Portobello Community Council urging MSPs to restrict the use of jet-skis.

Campaigners fear lives could be at risk if jet-skiers lose control of their machines near where people are swimming or canoeing.

And residents claim the noise from the jet-skis can be heard up to half a mile away from the beach.

They are calling for designated jet-ski areas to be set up away from beaches located close to residential areas - and separate from bathing or canoeing waters.

Around three or four jet-skiers use Portobello beach every day during summer - when the beach is busy with sunbathers and swimmers. And locals claim most disregard the warning buoys put in place to encourage them to keep away from the shore - and say some jet-skiers regularly drive their cars down on to the beach.

The clampdown call follows a string of serious jet-ski accidents both in the UK and abroad. Last year, 16-year-old Hannah Sutton died after her boyfriend, James Dudley, lost control of his jet-ski and ran over her in Cyprus.

Community council member Diana Cairns said: "We started becoming aware of the jet-ski problem about three years ago. The first issue is the noise - I live around half a mile away from the beach and I can clearly hear the whine of the jet-skis from inside my house - it must be awful for people living on the prom.

"Also, they do like to come in close to the beach, regardless of the fact there are buoys there warning them not to - I think it's a macho thing. There are a lot of canoeists and swimmers around, especially in the summer. It is just an accident waiting to happen."

More than 175 people have signed the petition, which is to remain open until August, when it will be presented to the Scottish Executive's petitions committee.

It states that the Scottish Parliament should "urge the Scottish Executive to consider how best to restrict the use of jet-skis in the vicinity of public beaches, particularly in residential areas".

Portobello councillor Maureen Child said: "We have had a lot of complaints about jet-skis from people living on the promenade and people using the beach. There have been a lot of accidents involving jet-skis over the past few years and it is a serious concern."

She added: "Also, Portobello is one of the busiest beaches in Scotland, a lot of people live on the prom and the noise of the jet-skiing really disturbs people. We have spoken to the police to ask them to make sure for now that skiers stay back behind the buoys that are already there, keeping them away from the beach, but a lot of jet-skiers break that rule."

Hugh Henderson, chairman of the Royal Yachting Association Scotland, said: "It is possible to manage the use of jet-skis in such a way that they can be compatible with other beach users. It is possible to zone beaches and keep jet-skis separate, which in a lot of cases isn't a bad idea."

Jet skier John Wilson, who owns a specialist jet-ski shop, JetSki Ecosse, in Irvine, said: "There are some jet-skiers who come too close to beaches and give the others a bad name."

Scotsman.com

8th June : Don't Drink And Drown.
COASTGUARDS CALL TIME ON DANGEROUS BEHAVIOUR CAUSED BY ALCOHOL
HM Coastguard are today launching their 2006 Dont Drink and Drown safety campaign
Calling time on the public who have had too much to drink, and put themselves in danger along the UKs cliffs, coastlines and beaches.
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has designed and produced thousands of "Don't Drink and Drown" beer mats for use in waterside bars and pubs throughout the UK to warn people that drinking alcohol and then participating in sailing, swimming, or any other waterborne activities can be a recipe for disaster.
Coastguards will shortly be distributing these in waterside bars in readiness for the summer season.
The beer mats display various hard-hitting images which the MCA believe will make drinkers take on the message, and stay clear of the water after drinking alcohol this summer.
Chief Coastguard Peter Dymond, said:
"We are trying to get the message across to anyone who wants to let their hair down during the summer that the warm evenings coupled with excessive drinking can lead to serious accidents or death."
"It can be very hard for the emergency services to have to tell a family that their son or daughter has been seriously injured or worse when we would rather they were enjoying a lovely holiday and going home safely."
"Our advice is to mix spirits and water only in a glass! Excessive alcohol impairs judgment and reaction times which can lead to tragic and often fatal accidents. Therefore we are pleased to be launching this important safety drive to raise awareness in order to lessen the potential for alcohol related accidents on the coast and at sea."
www.mcga.gov.uk

8th June : Jets Marivent Agrees To Sell Company.

From October 2006 on BRP will start to distribute its products directly to dealers in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Jets Marivent today announced that the shareholders of Jets Marivent have agreed to sell the company to an affiliate of BRP and as of October 1, 2006, BRP will distribute its products directly through dealers the aforementioned countries.

Until that date, BRP products will continue to be supported in these markets by Jets Marivent.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is marking a new phase of its international development by reinforcing its presence in European markets.

Starting this autumn, BRP will establish direct commercial operations in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland, where Jets Marivent has served as its distributor.

Following BRP's decision to establish its own dealer network in France in 2005, this move constitutes the second phase of its European growth strategy.

BRP has already established dealer networks in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brazil, France and Scandinavia and has been present in Europe for over 30 years, with manufacturing facilities in Austria (BRP-Rotax) and in Finland (BRP-Finland).

Jets Marivent which is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, is the biggest distributor of BRP products in Europe and has been importing and marketing BRP products since 1993.

Over the years, they have greatly contributed to building strong brand equity for the BRP product brands in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

"Along with our dealers and business partners, we built this business from the ground up, starting out with only two models of Sea-Doo personal watercraft (PWC) in Spain over ten years ago," said Oliver Fröls, founder and President of Jets Marivent.

"Today, Jets Marivent distributes the entire line up of Sea-Doo PWC and sport boats, Can-Am ATVs, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines and a wide variety of accessories.

This would not have possible without the experience and business support of our dealers, BRP's excellent product innovation and continuous support," added Mr. Fröls.

This decision affects all Seadoo personal watercraft and sport boats, Can-Am all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, as well as related parts, accessories and clothing businesses.

All BRP products will continue to be available in Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland, thus reaffirming BRP's mission to offer its customers the ultimate motorized recreational experience.

"Over time we firmly believe that this decision will provide significant benefits to dealers and consumers in these markets, including increased efficiency in customer service and logistics support as well as branding, product positioning and market responsiveness," said Michel Hade, Vice-President and General Manager, BRP International Sales and Marketing.

Both Jets Marivent and BRP are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to maximize continuity of business as usual for everyone involved.

Jets Marivent has specialized in recreational products since 1988, and has been dedicated to the import and distribution of BRP recreational product since 1993.

Today, Jets Marivent is present in 14 European countries and has a wide network of almost 700 licensed dealers. Its headquarters are located in Barcelona, Spain with offices in Madrid, Netherlands, Great Britain and Germany.

www.jetsmarivent.com

8th June : Win A Unique Rius Photo.
Here's your chance to get your hands on a unique piece of Jetsport Memorabilia.
JMUK has teamed up with Nicolas Rius to offer one lucky reader a signed action print of Nicolas aboard his Yamaha Superjet at the 2006 European Tour stop in Spain.
Not only will the winner receive the signed print but also a smaller version of the one pictured here of Nicholas with the ink drying for authenticity.
To be in the draw to win the print simply visit www.nicolasrius.com and answer this simple question.
How many Times has Nicolas been crowned European Champion?
(CLUE: The answer will appear on the homepage!)
Email your answer to jetman@jetmanuk.com
*Closing date for entry Friday 16th June

7th June : Euro Tour Round 2 Pics.
A selection of Jetmans photos from Round 2 of the 2006 EJSBA European Championship are now online.
Check them out in the photo gallery.

5th June : Pierats Charity Clinic Success.
The Pierats Charity Freestyle Clinic at Six Hills was a great success.
The weather was absolutely brilliant and a fantastic weekend was had by all who attended.
The Pierats (Paul Martin, Gary Gregg, James Anker, Luke Stocks and Anthony Burgess) would like to thank,
Fred and Paul at Six Hills for supporting the fund raiser with the use of their lake for the weekend and also John Dady of Blowsion for providing some great prizes and of course all those who came along to support this worthy cause.
Over the weekend £939.99 was raised for the HOPE foundation cancer research charity.
Well Done!
www.pierats.co.uk

3rd June : Helicopter Evacuates Injured PWC Rider.

At ten minutes past four this afternoon, Solent Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a collision between a motor boat and a personal water craft (jetski).

The collision occurred to the East of Newhaven harbour entrance.

Solent Coastguard immediately scrambled the Coastguard rescue helicopter 'Victor Alpha' and called out the Newhaven Coastguard rescue team. Shoreham Coastguard rescue team were also called to prepare the landing site for the helicopter at Brighton Hospital.

One man, believed to be in his late thirties/early forties was evacuated by the helicopter to hospital.

Sussex Police also attended the scene of the incident. The Enforcement Branch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have been informed as also the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Fred Caygill, from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The condition of the injured man is unknown, but he was quickly evacuated by the coastguard helicopter to hospital, where he is undergoing medical treatment."

www.bymnews.com

3rd June : JSRA British Championship Results.
The Jetsport Racing Association British Championship Results from Round 2 are now online.
Check them out at...
www.jsra.co.uk

2nd June : 50 mph Quadski converts from Jetski to ATV.
Alan Gibb's Aquada and Humdinga high speed amphibious vehicles have been making the headlines for the last few years, partly because they work, partly because they have compelling feature sets and partly because the Aquada has set a few records, most notably in the hands of Sir Richard Branson.
Now there's a new affordable Gibbs amphibian on the way that instantly becomes one of the most desirable recreational vehicles on the planet
It's both a quadbike and a jet ski and converts from one guise to the other at the touch of a button in under five seconds, using the 140 bhp motor to reach 50 mph (72km/h) on both land and water.
The design offers a new class of recreational vehicle, along with a range of capabilities that make it ideal for life saving clubs, search and rescue, military, emergency services and aid workers who will be able to reach areas and people no two or four wheel drive vehicle could reach.
Gibbs Technologies intends to license the design and technology for the Quadski and is seeking expressions of interest.
www.gizmag.co.uk

1st June : Yamaha Europe Joins IJSBA.
The International Jet Sports Boating Association is pleased to announce that Yamaha Motors of Europe has joined the IJSBA as a Manufacturer Member.
Yamaha of Europe is heavily involved in the PWC racing effort and is one of the most dominant presences in the European venues as well as the World Finals.
Most notably, 2005 Pro Runabout World Champion Nicholas Rius rides for Yamaha of Europe.
Last year, Rius defied the emerging supercharged watercraft by capturing the checkered flag on his Yamaha GPR.
Rius races Yamaha products exclusively.
Yamaha of Europe is committed to the sport of Personal Watercraft Racing and puts an extra emphasis on the stand up model PWC which is the nucleus of closed course racing. Over the last decade, the Yamaha Superjet has been the most consistent model for wins in the ski classes.
Yamaha of Europe is proud to release a performance version of their successful Superjet named the Superjet RR (Rius Racing edition).
This powerful ski is specifically geared for the performance minded consumer who wants the latest in performance for a ski type PWC.
European customers should see their local Yamaha dealer for more details on ordering their 2006 Superjet with the Rius Racing package.
The IJSBA is excited to have Yamaha of Europe as part of the largest PWC family in the world. The IJSBA is the world’s leader in the sport of Personal Watercraft Racing. Yamaha of Europe’s contributions to this sport are sure to bring great things for the future.
www.ijsba.com

1st June : Scottish Police Use Seadoo.
Scottish Jets Marivent dealer, Jetski Ecosse, have sold two Seadoo GTX 4-TEC personal watercraft (PWC) to the Strathclyde Police Marine Unit.
The dealership, which is based in Irvine on the West Coast, provided the 155 hp, four-stroke craft for use on patrol.
John Wilson, owner of Jetski Ecosse, comments,
“The Unit were particularly impressed with how quiet and environmentally friendly the Seadoo skis are. The GTX’s power and low fuel consumption make it an excellent vehicle to be used by the police.”
The GTX 4-TEC is extremely reliable and durable, and is engineered to withstand the heavy demands placed on a watercraft engine.
It features the best fuel consumption of all the Seadoo large displacement models at cruising speeds of over 5000rpm, extending riding time substantially.
As with all Seadoo models in the 2006 range, the GTX 4-TEC features revolutionary clean air technology.
Jets Marivent are the sole distributor for BRP Products in the UK and Eire. For more information on their products, please visit
www.jetsmarivent.com