UK PWC News

UK Personal Watercraft News

27th December : Campaigners Mount New Bid To Curb 'Dangerous' Jet Skis.

Adrian Mather

Campaigners have called for a new beach-watch group to be set-up in the wake of concerns over noisy and dangerous jet skis at Portobello.

City council chiefs have recommended that the Scottish Executive set up the group after hundreds of people signed a petition to Holyrood asking for "dangerous" jet ski use to be monitored.

Under the proposal, which will be discussed at Holyrood next year, local authorities, police forces and port authorities will be asked to join forces to discuss how to regulate beach use and introduce new legislation to deal with troublemakers.

It comes after a petition lodged by Portobello Community Council earlier this year, which urged MSPs to restrict the use of jet skis.

The campaigners argued that lives could be at risk if jet skiers lose control of their machines near where people are swimming or canoeing.

They also claimed the noise from jet skis could be heard from up to half a mile away from the beach.

Local campaigner Diana Cairns, who set up the petition sent to the parliament, said she hoped that a working group would be set up to deal with the problems in Portobello.

She added: "This is a growing problem across Scotland and I think it needs to be managed at a very early stage.

"There is a great need to be pro-active and get all parties working together on the issue before someone gets seriously injured or killed by a jet ski.

"A working group needs to look at how to reduce noise pollution and improve safety for other beach users.

"It also needs to look at setting up designated areas for jet skiers to go rather than have them whizzing past just metres away from swimmers and other people on the beach.

"It's a relatively new phenomenon, so the existing legislation isn't enough to deal with the problem. It needs to either be rewritten or updated to provide a solution that is acceptable to everyone."

In a report to the executive of the council, services for communities director Mark Turley said that, as local authorities haD limited powers to restrict jet ski use in the sea, a parliamentary working group was the only way to solve the problem of appropriate beach use across Scotland.

He said: "[The council] requests that the Scottish Parliament gives consideration to the formation of a working party to review and identify the national picture across Scotland and to develop and report on a range of solutions for the management and regulation of the recreational use of personal watercrafts."

Sheila Gilmore, the council's executive member for Community Safety and Housing, added: "Users of personal watercrafts (PWCs) need to realise that operating these vehicles too close to popular family beaches and residential areas is not acceptable.

"The council executive agreed to increase the level of information to users in order that they can continue the use of their sporting equipment responsibly.

"As current noise legislation prevents the council from taking action, the council executive agreed to ask the Scottish Parliament to look into the national picture for Scotland with a view to providing guidance and regulation for local authorities, so that a fair and consistent approach can be taken on this issue."

The petition is due to be reviewed by the Scottish Parliament on March 14.

Any decision to set up a working party to deal with problem jet skis will be made following the review.

Read and Leave Your Comments Here...

Scotsman.com

25th December : Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all from jetmanuk.com.

Thanks for visiting this past year.

Without your support and that of the site sponsors we wouldn't be the premier UK watercraft web portal, bringing you the latest UK news from the PW World.

Please visit our sponsors by clicking on their banners above.

2006 has been a great year, clubs have again been at the front in representing the sport and its been good getting out and spending more time on the water meeting you all.

Again UK riders featured at the pinnacle of the European and World Racing scene.

Congratulations to all our champions!

We look forward to seeing you Out n About in 2007 until then have a safe but very Merry Christmas.

JM, JW & JB

23rd December : MCA Christmas Message!

With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) would like to advise people who have bought or are intending to buy presents for use on the sea or along the coasts.

Choose carefully; think twice before getting the Turbo version. It is far better to build up a skill with the Basic model before moving on to the more advanced version.

If you are stuck for a present for a sea enthusiast, then how about safety equipment: flares, lifejackets, toolkit, first aid box, VHF Radio, protective clothing or better still an instructional course from a properly qualified body, such as the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). Invest in training, it really does save lives.

Mariners looking for a New Years Resolution could resolve never to put to see with a known or foreseeable machinery fault.

If everyone did that, we suspect the maritime casualty statistics would fall dramatically.

For those of us who like to walk off the Christmas Dinner along our beautiful coastal footpaths.

The MCA would like again to remind you to keep away from the edge of all cliffs, do not attempt to climb the cliffs and keep children and animals well under control.

The cliffs are particularly dangerous this time of the year due to the vast amount of rain water the soil has had to absorb over the year.

If you are a parent of young children it may be a good time to remind your children of the dangers along the coast.

Point out the landslides you see along your route, ask them to tell you of other dangers they know. Also, what should they do if things go wrong, how to contact the Emergency Services such as Her Majestys Coastguard. I suspect you will all be surprised at their answers and how well informed they are.

Remember, if you get into difficulties along the coast call 999 and ask for the coastguard don't delay remember seconds save lives.

Our Coastguard maritime rescue coordination centres are manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and our 3,500 volunteer coastguards who make up our rescue teams who are on call, day and night.

If you would like further advice, safety leaflets or addresses of other recognized organizations, then please contact your local Coastguard.

From all at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency may we wish you all a very Merry Christmas with a safe and prosperous New Year.

www.mcga.gov.uk

22nd December : Seadoo Experience Tour!

The Seadoo Experience Tour 2007 will be offering customers the chance to get out on the water to test PWC (Personal Watercraft) from the Seadoo range.

The 2007 Seadoo range boasts a wide variety of PWC, including the powerful RXP and three-seater RXT, the stylish GXT and GTX SE and the extreme GTX WAKE.

There will be a selection of PWC available for trial at four demonstration days taking place across the UK next March.

The locations and dates include:
6th March – Strathclyde Lakes, Scotland
8th March – Trafford Water Sports Centre, Manchester
13th March – Kingsbury Water Park, Sutton Coldfield
15th March – Princes Club, London

BRP Recreational Products UK will also be hosting and experience weekend in Poole, Dorset for the Seadoo sport boats range on 23rd and 24th March.

The range offers a wide selection of craft for recreational boating right through to extreme sports.

For further information or to book a demonstration, please contact Jenny Angell by email jenny.angell@brp.com or on 01202 856390.

www.brp.com

18th December : ATP Charging Lightweight Flywheel.
Newly available from ATP comes the Charging lightweight Flywheel.
The result of over six months R&D, currently the only one available for the SuperJet & Blaster 1.
Made from highest grade aluminium and containing the highest quality magnets available.
Big increase in bottom end hit, Kinder on the crank, Excellent for both recreational and freestyle skis.
£450.00
www.queenford.8m.com

16th December : Jetskier & Personal Watercraft Magazine.
The January 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 Xtreme Action from Ibiza, 2007 Boat Show Preview, Readers Rides Part II, Macc 15F on test, Cruising Down Under and much more.
Get Yours Now!

11th December : JSRA Winter Series Pics.

Dave Stewart of Xtreme Action Images has uploaded a selection of pictures taken at the first round of the Winter Series on the 3rd December at Tattershall.

Visit xtreme-action-images.com and check out the Jetski link in the Sports Galleries.

7th December : Natural Born Thrillers.
Xtreme Action Events 2006 DVD is available now!
Featuring world champions Lee Stone, Ant Burgess and other spectacular riders and performers such as Dan Ashcroft, Team Extreme BMX, Bolddog FMX with Dan Whitby, Jamie Squibb FMX along with fellow riders.
There's more performance on the water with wakeboarding championships, the Tampa Bay ski display team. Of course the Xtreme Action trip to Ibiza and much more. Simply not to be missed!

DVD Includes:
British International Motor Show, ExCeL London - July 2006
Jet Bou JetSki festival, Ibiza - October 2006
Weston Beach Race, Weston-Super-Mare - October 2006
Bonus: Master class with Lee Stone.

£14.00 Postage and Packing: £2.95

See the two teaser videos for the 2006 season and prepare yourselves for an Xtreme 2007 at...
www.xtremeaction.co.uk

5th December : ATC 2000 Helmet Camera.
Now you can have your own monkeycam, terriercam, choppercam, whatever-cam.
Be among the first to try ATC2K, the ultimate waterproof self-contained action cam.
Weighing in at half a pound (with batteries), this hands-free action cam delivers full color digital video in 640 X 480 VGA at 30 frames per second.
ATC2K works seamlessly with most video editing software. Expandable up to 2GB, with a built-in SD card slot, ATC2K mounts easily on helmets, bikes, race cars, dirt bikes and more.
Wipeouts in a white out or an unexpected barrel roll? No worries, ATC2K is waterproof up to 10 feet! Play hard, record everything, even under water!
More info at extremepie.com

4th December : JSRA Winter Series Results.
Results from Round 1 of the Jetsport Racing Association Winter Championship held at Tattershall, Lincoln at the weekend are now online.
Check them out at...
www.jsra.co.uk