Jet Ski's in Cardigan Bay ( off Aberystwyth, Mid-Wales)

[Tony Andrew]

Hi ! everybody

I'm a retired Printer from Aberystwyth, who enjoys Shore and Rock fishing, naturism & also swimming when it's not to cold.  Not wanting to sound like a Victor Meldrew, but we are increasingly plagued by inc onsiderite Jet Ski's especially in the summer months, who steer their craft way too close to shore for any ones safety.

Only last month I had a chat with the local Harbour Master, who listened sympathetically to me, but then stated that as they didn't come from "his" harbour he couldn't do a thing about them and even quoting European Law that prevented him doing so.

My next move was to contact by e-mail "Friends of Cardigan Bay".  Received a prompt reply, which said they've been trying for a long time to curtail this, by constant contact with Aberystwyth Town Council also Ceredigion County Council to no avail so far. They've even asked me to lobby the Council's by supplying  e-mail addresses.

Basically, what I've discovered is, our Council's don't licence Jet Ski's in this Bay. But in the adjoining county North (Gwynedd) they do !   So down they come.

It was suggested I join your forum, after bringing up this problem on the BN Forum by members there.


                Thanks for allowing me to set my views before you.



                                                     Tony       

[eastneyboy2k]

Tony,

Welcome and thank you. We have had a few summers of these pests - coming in close to the beach for some inappropriate remarks about those bathing and sunbathing. Often they were dangerously close to swimmers and were noisy,smelly and often controlled by seemingly testorone and lager driven drivers.

The nearest launch pad at neighbouring Langstone Harbour have had such aggressive reactions from these folks [again,also with us,most are "out-of-town" folks with no knowledge/respect for the rules of the water] that they have withdrawn their advisory staff from the launch point.

We took advice from the police and main Queen's Harbour Master at Portsmouth. We then spent a summmer photographing as many "incidents" as possible on a daily basis. We then warned as many authorities as possible about the imminent possibility of death or dangerous accident - some of these jet-skis were even being driven by small children with their "parents" on the back or on a nearby jet-ski. We backed this up with a big petition on one of our "Beach Party Days" which we copied to as many local councillors and others as possible including local newspapers.

Eventually,the Queens Harbour Master [HM Royal Navy man with muscle]  has now introduced a specified area designated for jet-skis in the Solent and new rules for any craft near the beach - less than 10 knots and no closer then 400 metres[except for landing]. It is being enforced by helicopters,police launches,life boats crews and by special jet-skis donated by an embarrassed Suzuki/Honda companies - we helped do the embarrassment.

The result has been so far [last Summer anyway -keep your fingers crossed] a much reduced menace but we remain vigilant. Many of us would be happy to join with you and others for a call to have minimum standards for these craft - minimum age to drive these powerful machines,registration with markings visible at 100 metres,insurance,prohibition to control drunken driving etc. You may know from a Google Search that Parliament has had this problem put to it but "commercial interests" killed off any controls - so far. Much,Much More needs to be done. It would be a tragedy to wait for a fatality before action is taken.

Good luck. 
 
 

[Tony Andrew]

Tony,

Welcome and thank you. We have had a few summers of these pests - coming in close to the beach for some inappropriate remarks about those bathing and sunbathing. Often they were dangerously close to swimmers and were noisy,smelly and often controlled by seemingly testorone and lager driven drivers.

The nearest launch pad at neighbouring Langstone Harbour have had such aggressive reactions from these folks [again,also with us,most are "out-of-town" folks with no knowledge/respect for the rules of the water] that they have withdrawn their advisory staff from the launch point.

We took advice from the police and main Queen's Harbour Master at Portsmouth. We then spent a summmer photographing as many "incidents" as possible on a daily basis. We then warned as many authorities as possible about the imminent possibility of death or dangerous accident - some of these jet-skis were even being driven by small children with their "parents" on the back or on a nearby jet-ski. We backed this up with a big petition on one of our "Beach Party Days" which we copied to as many local councillors and others as possible including local newspapers.

Eventually,the Queens Harbour Master [HM Royal Navy man with muscle]  has now introduced a specified area designated for jet-skis in the Solent and new rules for any craft near the beach - less than 10 knots and no closer then 400 metres[except for landing]. It is being enforced by helicopters,police launches,life boats crews and by special jet-skis donated by an embarrassed Suzuki/Honda companies - we helped do the embarrassment.

The result has been so far [last Summer anyway -keep your fingers crossed] a much reduced menace but we remain vigilant. Many of us would be happy to join with you and others for a call to have minimum standards for these craft - minimum age to drive these powerful machines,registration with markings visible at 100 metres,insurance,prohibition to control drunken driving etc. You may know from a Google Search that Parliament has had this problem put to it but "commercial interests" killed off any controls - so far. Much,Much More needs to be done. It would be a tragedy to wait for a fatality before action is taken.

Good luck. 
 
 

Hi ! eastneyboy2

Thanks for your interesting reply. Knew of your same problem, though didn't realize on what scale yours was, but glad your having the help of the police and forces.

Only this morning I had an e-mail reply to mine of yesterday from "Friends of Cardigan Bay", agreeing with my  opinion that Jet Ski's are invaluable when in the hands of responsible people, such as the Lifeguards for quickly rescuing someone in distress, This was clearly proved on a TV prog. last year in Cornwall.  As she pointed out "It's the few that spoil it for the rest of us"

May I lastly mention, that I've lately joined the "North Wales Kayak Forum", purely for discussion on inshore fishing which I've enjoyed for years. Can't afford a Kayak so my wife claims.
They and many other individuals have signed a petition for submissionto No 10 Downing St. To protect the Golden Mile ( from shore out) from ANY size of craft, be they for fishing or joyriding.
There is a new Marine Bill coming out very soon, that may alter many present rules.



             Thanks again and all the best to you as well, and roll on the sunny weather!

                                                  Tony       
                                                   

[davidib]

I visited Eastney on saturday (May 30th) and jet skis didn't seem to be a problem.  I was only aware of one jet-skier who seemed to be keeping a reasonable distance from the beach.