| 28th
June : Bladerun Takes To The
Water. |
| Forget Gumball, it’s all
about taking to the high seas at high speeds.
|
|
| Bladerun kicks off in July,
with another event due for September.
|
| Forget supercars, tiresome
preening celebrities and stern tickings off from German traffic
police.
|
| Basically, forget the
Gumball 3000. Because there’s a new kid in town.
|
| Blade Run, now in its third
year, is the ultimate test of speed.
|
| No stars
looking to cash in on tabloid fame, oh no. Just a lot of boats, a love
of water and a proper focus on hardcore partying.
|
| It’s run by
Duncan Scholes, formerly of Gumball fame, so it’s got the superfast
quotient sorted.
|
| And it’s
sponsored by the Royal Navy, so when it comes to organisation, it’s
second to none.
|
| This year there
are two races: one from London to Amsterdam from 25-28 July, the other
from Barcelona to Ibiza from 23-26 September.
|
| Best of all,
you can enter any boat you like, be it an F1 Power Boat or even a Jet
Ski.
|
| Entry will hit
you for a not insubstantial £1,250. But what price adventure, eh?
|
| If that’s a
little out of your price range, then head over to www.bladerun.com,
where you’ll be able to get daily video updates.
|
| See, they’ve
even got a boat with a full edit suite.
|
| Check out some
of the amazing boats due to take part at the link below.
|
| www.t3.co.uk
|
| 22nd
June : Jetski Riders In 'Fiery
Hell' Escape. |
| By Antony Quarrell
|
| A RESCUE boat was
dispatched as firefighters were called to the scene as a jet ski burst
into flames.
|
| The incident occurred at
Westhorpe Water Park, Westhorpe Park, in Little Marlow, on Sunday.
|
| Firefighters from High
Wycombe and the rescue boat and crew from Marlow, were called to the
scene, shortly before 12.15pm.
|
| Station Manager John Bull,
from High Wycombe, explained that a man had been riding a jet ski on
the lake at the watersports centre when the engine cut out.
|
| He said the man checked the
fuel gauge which indicated there was fuel and that another jet ski
user had pulled along side the man to help.
|
| However, as they attempted
to restart the jet ski it burst into flames and the fire spread to the
other jet ski.
|
| Mr Bull said that both men
- who he said were aged between 20 and 30 - jumped off their jet skis
and into the water.
|
| He said both men were
unhurt but recalled: "The two guys had a bit of a shock."
|
| Firefighters wearing
buoyancy aids as a precaution battled the blaze and Mr Bull told the
Express: "We had to use foam as it was a fuel fire."
|
| Though the rescue boat was
sent to the scene it was not launched during the incident.
Firefighters clad in dry-suits with rescue lines were also standing by
in case anyone fell into the water.
|
| Roger Randall from the
Westhorpe Water Park declined to comment on the matter when quizzed by
the Express.
|
| icBerkshire
|
| 17th
June : Girls That Ride 2. |
| Nitrojet Action Sports
23rd-24th June.
|
| The weekend activities get
kicked off on Saturday with Kawasaki and Hydrospace Demo Skis.
|
| Running along side the
demos we also have Hydrospace technical workshops on both Saturday and
Sunday, covering basics like oil changes, right through to more
technical maintenance such as engine removal.
|
| While the men get down and
dirty in the workshop on Saturday afternoon, we have a beautician for
the ladies who will be offering a make up and nails workhop, one lucky
lady will be given a complete make over.
|
| The non-water activity
includes an HUGE bouncy castle all weekend and disco, Karaoke and Mr
GTR 2007 Speedo Competition Saturday night.
|
| Jet Ski launch is free of
charge to ladies all weekend!
|
| Any men wishing to join
their ladies on the water get half price day launch, just quote
"I am a Girl That Rides" when signing in.
|
| Any man who skis in a Pink
Bikini all weekend gets the launch for free.
|
| Jet Ski insurance is compulsory.
|
| Camping is available all
weekend, bring your own B-B-Q.
|
| For any additional
information call Nitrojet on 01865
341115 or email team@nitrojet.co.uk
|
|
www.nitrojet.co.uk
|
| 15th
June : Department
For Transport Plans For Alcohol Limits For Leisure Mariners. |
| In response to the
Department for Transport's announcement today that they will be
pressing ahead with the introduction of an alcohol limit for
non-professional mariners, the RYA is puzzled that they are acting
now, three years after completing their consultation.
|
| They obviously did not see
any need to act immediately at the time, in August 2004.
|
| We are certainly not aware
of any additional evidence in the last three years that suggests that
alcohol related boating incidents have become a significant problem.
|
| The proposed regulations
will be applied to the navigation of vessels which are greater
than 7 metres (about 23ft) in length and/or are capable of a
maximum speed of over 7 knots.
|
| The limit of 80 milligrams
of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood will be equivalent to
that already in existence for professional mariners.
|
| Rod Carr, RYA CEO “The
RYA’s view remains unchanged from that of 2004. We believe that new
legislation is unnecessary because there is still no evidence of the
existence of an extensive problem relating to alcohol and boating.
|
| “However, given that the
Government is intent on pressing ahead with the introduction of an
alcohol limit for leisure mariners then we will work hard with the
Department of Transport to ensure that sensible measures are put in
place.
|
| “There are a number of
serious issues relating to the proposal, which were brought up during
the consultation process, these include;
|
|
The precise clarification of
which boats will be affected and in what circumstances.
|
|
Clarification of which
persons on board boats will be affected;
|
|
How the legislation is going
enforced and by whom.
|
|
“The fact that the DfT has
stated that the proposed regulations will not apply to personal
watercraft shows how complex this issue is and the difficulties
inherent in policing it.”
|
|
The RYA continues to work to
educate boaters on key safety issues, including alcohol and boating
and has been working with harbourmasters in this regard.
|
|
rya.org.uk
|
| 14th
June : NBS Combi Ticket Goes Online. |
| National Boat Shows -
organisers of the London Boat Show at ExCeL and Southampton Boat Show
- today announced that its recently launched flexible Combi-Ticket can
now be purchased online.
|
| Initially available via the
ticket hotline on 0870 060 0246 or on the door, this great
"combination" ticket deal gives visitors the freedom to
choose how they visit the UK's premier boat shows.
|
| Visitors can spend two full
days at either show, or one day at both shows.
|
| The Combi-Ticket deal costs
just £20 in advance or £25 on the door, giving visitors a saving of
£5 over purchasing two separate tickets.
|
|
This joins the latest ticket
deal offering great value for money where up to 2 kids aged 15 and
under go free at the Southampton Boat Show - provided they are with a
paying adult.
|
|
Visitors can now buy tickets
for the Southampton Boat Show through the official website at www.southamptonboatshow.com
|
|
A number of further
enhancements to the Show website are currently in the final stages of
development and will be announced at regular intervals in the run-in
to the Show.
|
| 13th
June : A Father’s Quest For Change. |
| Ben Rooth
|
| AS Stephen Sutton gazes
adoringly at one of the last photos of his beautiful teenage daughter
Hannah, he is determined that her death will not be in vain.
|
| The memory of answering the
phone almost two years ago and being told that his beloved Hannah had
been killed in a water sports accident is still as vivid as if it were
yesterday.
|
| He is fully aware that
nothing will bring her back, but finds solace in the fact that she
will live forever in his heart.
|
|
Hannah was enjoying a post-GCSE
holiday with her mother and friends in the resort of Pissouri, in
southern Cyprus, when she and her 16-year-old boyfriend, James Dudley,
went to the beach to cool down in the scorching sun.
|
|
The pair should never have
been allowed to hire the jet skis on that fateful lunchtime on August
5, 2005, as they were both under-18 – the minimum age under European
law.
|
|
The pair hired jet skis to
enjoy some fun in the water. But they were both under-18, and it was a
decision that was to have tragic consequences.
|
|
Little did they realise as
they sped across the clear blue Mediterranean waters that it was a
journey from which Hannah would never return.
|
|
At some point during their
jet skiing excursion James’ vehicle collided with his girlfriend’s.
She was dead before the emergency services reached her.
|
|
Stephen hoped that his living
nightmare would conclude last month when Aristos Ioannou, the man
responsible for illegally hiring Hannah and James their jet skis, was
sentenced at Limassol district court.
|
|
But the judge chose not to
impose the maximum penalty of three years jail in prison with a
maximum fine of £3,000 for his failure to check the duos’ passports
for their age.
|
|
Instead, the 30-year-old
Cypriot walked free from the court with a fine of just £523.
|
|
The decision left Mr Sutton
who lives in Knutsford seething with rage and frustration.
|
|
The officer with Greater
Manchester Police said: "The judge decided to fine the man who
illegally hired Hannah the jet ski £523, which leaves me asking: ‘What
price a life?’" said Mr Sutton.
|
|
"Both my ex-wife, Lynne,
and I were hoping that the outcome of the trial would bring something
positive out of this whole negative experience and would send out a
clear message that it is totally unacceptable for jet ski operators to
flout the law.
|
|
"But a fine of just
£523 is simply derisory in view of the fact that Ioannou was
responsible for hiring those jet skis to a couple of minors, which led
to Hannah’s death. It is for that reason that I am calling on all
holidaymakers to be fully aware of the dangers of jet skis and to use
them only if they feel sufficiently confident to operate them.
|
|
"As I understand it, on
the day that Hannah and James used their jet skis, they were given a
key which was attached to their wrist and told that if they fell off,
the engine would automatically cut out.
|
|
"If the operator had
adhered to the law and checked their passports, then Hannah’s death
would never have happened."
|
|
Mr Sutton, 49, also believes
that jet ski operators should be legally required to give a full
demonstration of how their vehicles work and explain the risks of
driving them too fast.
|
|
He has found the workings of
the Cypriot legal system at best frustrating and at worst incredibly
cruel.
|
|
For a start, the case has
taken almost two years to reach a verdict and the family has been
called back to court on 14 separate occasions.
|
|
He has been at the side of
Lynne, who lives in Alderley Edge, for the whole of this lengthy legal
process which at times was deeply unpleasant to witness.
|
|
"When my ex-wife Lynne
– Hannah’s mum – gave evidence against Ioannou, the defence’s
opening gambit involved showing her a picture of our daughter in the
mortuary," said Mr Sutton. "She was reduced her to floods of
tears but they still made her stand for two hours, giving evidence
just feet away from the defendant.
|
|
"He stood there with his
father – with whom he jointly ran the jet ski firm – and the pair
of them smirked at her for much of the time.
|
|
"I hoped that the judge
would use this case as a chance to say to all jet ski operators that
it is totally unacceptable to hire their vehicles out to minors –
but sadly that opportunity was also lost."
|
|
Mr Sutton attributes
absolutely no blame for Hannah’s death on James, now 18, and feels
that he is also one of the victims of the tragedy.
|
|
"James was fined £2,000
– substantially more than Ioannou – but he is an innocent party in
all this as far as I am concerned," he added.
|
|
"I know for a fact that
this whole dreadful experience has changed him completely and he is no
longer the outgoing young man that he was before.
|
|
"I also know that if he
could turn back time then he would do so – He has lost his best
friend and I have lost the most beautiful daughter."
|
|
First published by the
|
|
Wilmslow
Express
|
| 11th
June : Jetskis To Be Banned From Galway Waters. |
| Jet skis could be banned
from Galway Bay this summer if the city council has its way.
|
| The local authority is
planning to introduce bye laws to regulate the use of recreational
crafts as well as personal watercraft/jet skis in the Galway city
area.
|
| The laws are currently on
display in City Hall and it seems jets skis will soon be banned from
Salthill and the majority of Galway waters.
|
| PD councillor Donal Lyons
welcomed the move this week and said, “I have received many
complaints regarding the use of jet skis close to the swimming areas
along Salthill Beach.
|
| I hope that the new
bye-laws will in future regulate the use of such craft in the Bay
area, will clearly define an area where they can be used, and will be
clearly identified to the public.
|
| There is no doubt that when
these bye laws are adopted there is an urgent need to have them
enforced so as to avoid possible accidents.”
|
| Under the proposed bye-laws
there is a clear prohibition area where the use of jet skis and
powerboats will not be allowed.
|
| Cllr Lyons added, “The
prohibited area is identified as the area enclosed north of a boundary
running west to east from the navigational mark at Barna Quay Light to
the Black Rock Beacon, to the navigational mark at Foundra Rock to the
yellow special navigational mark at the diffusers south of Mutton
Island, to the Leverets Tower to Rabbitt Island to Murrough House.
|
| Personal Watercraft (Jet
Skis) and fast Power Craft are not permitted on the north side of this
boundary at any time with the exception of the designated launch site
at Palmers Rock and the designated access/egress from Palmers Rock to
the non-prohibited area.”
|
| The draft bye-laws will be
on display at City Hall for six weeks.
|
| Galway
First
|
| 6th
June : Coastguard Warn About Out Of Date Pyrotechnics. |
| Following
a number of incidents in which people have tried to hand in large
numbers of out of date pyrotechnics, such as flares, to Coastguard
Stations the marine emergency service has reiterated its current
advice to users of such pyrotechnics.
|
| Dave
Jardine-Smith, Head of Search and Rescue at the Maritime &
Coastguard Agency said
|
| Only
small quantities of time-expired pyrotechnics can be accepted by the
Coastguard, and only when storage space is available locally.
|
| As an
additional service to owners of non-regulated pleasure vessels and
small independent fishing vessels, we do accept small quantities of
time-expired pyrotechnics when we can.
|
| However,
large quantities of time expired pyrotechnics cannot be accepted, nor
can commercial stock. These should be disposed of by approved
hazardous waste disposal companies or via the pyrotechnic manufacturer
or supplier if they provide a disposal service.
|
| The
Coastguard also wants to remind people that it is an offence to fire
distress signal pyrotechnics unless actually in distress - and it is
an offence to dump pyrotechnics at sea. Such out of date pyrotechnics
must be disposed of responsibly; for safety reasons, as well as to
protect the environment.
|
| Mr
Jardine-Smith continued,
|
| Members
of the public who have time expired material have a responsibility for
ensuring that they dispose of it carefully, cleanly and above all do
not put other people at risk.
|
| Maritime
& Coastguard Agency
|
| 6th
June : Seadoo Experience Tour Is A Great Success. |
| The recent Seadoo
Experience Tour, held in Cheshire, Dorset, Middlesex, Motherwell, and
the West Midlands, proved to be such a success that one visitor
travelled a over 250 miles to attend one of the dates.
|
| “We were extremely
pleased to see both new and seasoned riders attend the Sea-Doo
demonstration days, “says Mark Rowley, Commercial Representative for
Sea-Doo Watercraft and Sport Boats.
|
| “The Tour was a great
opportunity for many people to experience a PWC for the first time and
for accomplished riders to test out the latest editions from the
Seadoo PWC and sport boat ranges.
|
| We are currently looking at
running an annual tour and hope to introduce more dates for 2008.”
|
| Highlights from the Tour
included the UK launch of BRP's flagship sports boat, the new 230
Challenger, with visitors at the Dorset event becoming some of the
first in Europe to ride onboard this impressive 23ft sport boat.
|
| They were able to
experience the full range of Seadoo boats on display, including the
versatile 180 Challenger, the luxurious 205 Utopia, and the
distinctive Speedster WAKE 200, which is perfect for extreme
wakeboarding action and is available in a 230 version for 2007.
|
| The impressive line-up of
Seadoo craft available to ride at the PWC demonstration days included
the most powerful 2 seater on the market the RXP 215hp, the three-seater
215hp RXT, and the stylish 155hp GTX 4-TEC.
|
| Wakeboarders were also able
to get out on the water, riding on the wake of the RXT during the
demonstration day in Middlesex.
|
| “Events like these
demonstration days are ideal for those who are interested in testing
the benefits of Sea-Doo technology for themselves, so we were pleased
to also see customers who currently own other brands of PWC attend,”
adds Mark Rowley
|
| Throughout the Tour,
visitors were able to meet with the BRP Recreational UK team and local
dealers.
|
| For more information about
the innovative range of Seadoo PWC and sport boat ranges, please
visit
|
|
www.brp.com
|
| 4th
June : Call For More Watercraft Controls. |
| A safety group is calling
for more controls on the use of watercraft after an accident off the
Sussex coast.
|
| A London man, in his 30s,
needed stitches when his water bike was in collision with a jet boat,
and a speed boat between Brighton piers.
|
| Two people on the anchored
speed boat received minor injuries.
|
| Peter Cornall of the
National Water Safety Forum said at present people could go on the
water without a driving licence or compulsory insurance.
|
| He said: "Currently
there are very few regulations controlling the use of jet skis. If you
have the money you can go and buy one tomorrow, and you currently
don't require a driving licence, boat registration or compulsory
insurance.
|
| "What we would like to
see is more controls so that it's not as easy for people to do
that."
|
| 'Difficult to enforce'
|
| The accident off the coast
of Brighton, on Saturday, prompted a warning from the coastguard about
the dangers of powered crafts.
|
| "Due to the high
speeds capable by these craft, accidents can and do happen very
quickly," said a spokesman.
|
| Local byelaws limit the use
of watercraft off the coast East Sussex to specific channels or areas.
|
| Ron Burgoyne, of Eastbourne
Personal Watercraft Association, said: "It would be very nice [to
have more controls] but it would be very difficult to enforce.
|
| "That's why it is
sensible for local clubs to start up. Most of the resorts have a club
working in conjunction with local councils to control
everything."
|
| BBC
News
|
| 3rd
June : Sentence Suspended For Jetski Rider Who Killed Diver. |
| by Matthew Xuereb
|
| A British national's
two-year suspended jail term, handed down after he was found guilty of
causing the death of a diver while riding a hired jet ski in October
2001, was yesterday converted to a Lm1,000 fine after an Appeals Court
ruled that the diver was partly to blame for the incident.
|
| David Rigglesford, who was
23 at the time of the incident, was found guilty of the involuntary
homicide of Christian Curmi from Mellieha, 29, who was snorkelling
wearing a wet suit and goggles around one kilometre from the area know
as Tunny Net.
|
| The victim, who was
married, had a two-year-old son and only one week before the incident
baptised his two-month-old daughter.
|
| The Court of Criminal
Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono said that Mr
Curmi was party to the blame for the incident in which he lost his
life because he was not using appropriate equipment to show drivers of
sea vessels of his presence.
|
| In its judgement, the
Magistrates' Court said that Rigglesford "acted imprudently,
carelessly, unskilfully and in violation of the rules he had signed to
observe (when he rented the Yamaha 700 jet ski)".
|
| Mr Justice Galea Debono
agreed with this but added that Mr Curmi was "at least partly to
blame for the fatal accident in question by failing to keep a proper
lookout and take proper precautions when he was approaching an
unoccupied boat moored in the middle of a wide bay".
|
| He said the victim was not
using the internationally recognised sign of his underwater activity
and this, the court said, also contributed to the fatal incident as
this sign "would have given the accused an earlier and
unequivocal warning of the driver's presence, thus enabling him to
take proper precautions".
|
| The Appeal Court therefore
converted the two-year suspended jail term to a Lm1,000 fine and
ordered him to pay only half the court-related expenses.
|
| Dr Stefano Filletti
appeared for the accused.
|
| CDNN
CYBER DIVER News
Network
|
| 2nd
June : National Boatshows Offer Combi Ticket. |
| 2 Shows; 2 Dates: 1 Ticket
|
| National Boat Shows -
organisers of the London Boat Show at ExCeL and Southampton Boat Show
- today announced the launch of a brand new, flexible Combi-ticket
deal.
|
| Available now via the
ticket hotline on 0870 060 6090 or on the door, this great
"combination" ticket deal gives visitors the freedom to
choose how they visit the UK's premier boat shows. Visitors can
spend two full days at either show, or one day at both shows.
|
| The combi-ticket deal costs
just £20 in advance or £25 on the door, giving visitors a saving of
£5 over purchasing two separate tickets. This joins the latest ticket
deal offering great value for money where kids aged 15 and under go
free at the Southampton Boat Show - provided they are with a paying
adult.
|
| Andrew Williams, NBS
Managing Director, comments: "Our brilliant combi-ticket deal
offers great value and flexibility for people interested in visiting
both Boat Shows - or simply planning a repeat trip."
|
| The Southampton Boat Show
in association with ITV Meridian is in Mayflower Park and runs from 14
to 23 September, and the London Boat Show at ExCeL runs from 11 to 20
January 2008.
|
| Visit www.nationalboatshows.co.uk
for details on both shows and to book tickets online, or call the
ticket hotline on 0870 060 6090
|
| 2nd
June : Clubs Can Take Advantage Of Icom Expertise. |
| Digital Selective
Calling (DSC) is still a subject that generates much debate among the
maritime community.
|
| Icom UK is offering
to visit organisations to talk about the issues raised by this
subject.
|
| Where relevant, we
will customise presentations, making them as general or as technical
as required (e.g. from talking about the safety benefits of radio in
general to the operation of a particular DSC unit) and all in an
informative and entertaining way.
|
| DSC affects all boat
users, so if you are a Yacht Club, Powerboat Club, Sportboat Club, RIB
Club, Motor Boat Club, Fishing Club or even a Jetski Club this could
be of interest to you.
|
| Members of our highly
professional and knowledgeable team will be giving the presentations.
All have a broad range of experience of the marine industry and have
provided presentations to a number of associations.
|
| Ian Lockyer,
Marketing Manager at Icom (UK) Ltd said,
|
| "With the need
to fill up a calendar of events for the year, this may be the ideal
opportunity for various club secretaries to fill an important gap in
their diary. Our team have already made numerous talks about DSC with
positive results. If any club is interested please contact us with
suggested dates".
|
| bymnews.com
|
