Triassic
Well-known member
Granted, in a Micra it probably isn't........
100mph in Southampton Water
- Thread starter mainsail1
- Start date
Granted, in a Micra it probably isn't........
mainsail1
Well-known member
I would not call it a biddy little powerboat, quite a big one really.
Anyway, my reference to an explosion was the fuel on the powerboat when it hit the steel sided tanker.
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pmagowan
Well-known member
It seems pretty straight forward. I don't like the idea of regulation especially when caused by a one off event but unfortunately idiots like this bring the eyes of authority down on all of us. Of course people are quite entitled to do what I would consider silly speeds in their funny boats at their own risk but we all must take some consideration of the risks to others. Driving at 100mph in a public area without any protective equipment, despite it being available, without any preparation or checks of potential obstructions on the course and no checks with local authorities seems on the completely foolhardy side of idiotic. The driver is lucky not to have lost his son and other passengers and I am sure he would accept that he was foolish with hindsight. If he doesn't question his own judgement then I suspect he will find it hard to get crew in the future because others certainly should.
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prv
Well-known member
Who do you think he was showing off to? It was an engine test after an overhaul, by people for whom such boats and speeds are business as usual.
Obviously I don't know what your actual thoughts are, but they resemble those of someone who has taken a dislike to someone else simply because they follow a different sport.
Pete
Blue Sunray
Well-known member
In that case I can only suggest that you visit a dictionary for a better understanding of the word "crowded" and yes you do come across as rather dumb.
superheat6k
Well-known member
My thoughts are that there is a feeling because this driver was very very experienced that he could not be at fault. I don't doubt he was mortified at what happened and to his son and hats off to him that he managed to save his life, but this aspect is after the fact that he lost control in no small part due to his speed.
Yet when an unexpected object appeared the sudden manoeuvre that followed led to immediate and complete loss of control. That is clearly because the boat was travelling too fast. If it had been at a safe speed the loss of control would not have happened.
Nothing at all to do with the inference that I somehow dislike people because they follow a different sport. I have no interest in power boat racing, I harbour no dislike for those who choose to follow this or indeed any other sport. Indeed as an ex-yachtie gone to the dark side I support the activities of all water users (except idiots). I have no issue with them using Southampton Water for such practices, but what happened smacks of complacency, and possibly arrogance.
Thus I stick by my comments re Bravado or Stupidity - clearly they did not strap in, nor undertake a check run for objects in their way. As said I abhor fishing marks that can barely be seen, but to lay blame for this at the fisherman's door is in my view complete nonsense.
I assume I am still allowed to have a view !
dylanwinter
Active member
I do enjoy observing people defending the indefensible
PhillM
Well-known member
Do you go sailing often at 8 am on a Wednesday morning?.
As it happens Wednesday is my day off at the moment, so yes, I do go out on a Wednesday morning. At the moment from Ocean Village but in the past from Swanwick and mercury.
mainsail1
Well-known member
Thanks for the suggestion. Ha ha. I suspect you have motor boat tendencies.
No idea how to add a smiley!
dunedin
Well-known member
That is a good illustration of the root issue - nut cases who believe their skill is infinitely better than others, but who appear to have limited knowledge of the physics (momentum) and implications upon others, until a huge accident happens.
I do not believe even Jackie Stewart or Lewis Hamilton would consider it sane to do "in excess of 140mph on British motorways on a daily basis". I certainly hope somebody is tracking this and locks you up if you are still doing this.
(PS. I have owned many cars that can do such speeds, in theory, and enjoy the acceleration - but do not try maxing on road)
Race cars and race boats at full pelt are for closed off "track days", and without passengers along for the ride
Triassic
Well-known member
I know people just can't resist using the 100mph figure when they are putting their case for why this incident happened but have they not read the detail of the report. The driver had already completed his "100mph" run and then completed a 180 degree turn before accelerating back up to the region of 90mph before he decelerated on the approach to the Hamble and then upon reaching the turning point started his turn into the river. It was during this turn that he saw the pot markers ahead and took the avoiding action. Although his speed wasn't recorded at the time of the incident it was clearly not 100mph and given he was about to enter the Hamble it was likely considerably less than some are supposing.
Yes he made a mistake, yes if he had been going slower the consequences of that mistake would have been less, but ultimately he didn't hit what he was trying to avoid so I really can't see what all the fuss is about. I'm sure he regrets not using appropriate safety equipment, especially given the only real casualty was his own son, and perhaps he was reckless not to. I don't know enough about power boats to say if what happened was something he could have reasonably predicted, after all these are offshore power boats designed to bounce off big waves at high speed so I would have thought a run on Southampton water would just be another day in the office, and it's not as if it's not been used to give joy rides before..... but whatever people conclude it happened and everybody is older and wiser for it. Personally I just think this is one pretty incredible piece of equipment and I'd quite like a go if anyone has one I can borrow.......
Yes he made a mistake, yes if he had been going slower the consequences of that mistake would have been less, but ultimately he didn't hit what he was trying to avoid so I really can't see what all the fuss is about. I'm sure he regrets not using appropriate safety equipment, especially given the only real casualty was his own son, and perhaps he was reckless not to. I don't know enough about power boats to say if what happened was something he could have reasonably predicted, after all these are offshore power boats designed to bounce off big waves at high speed so I would have thought a run on Southampton water would just be another day in the office, and it's not as if it's not been used to give joy rides before..... but whatever people conclude it happened and everybody is older and wiser for it. Personally I just think this is one pretty incredible piece of equipment and I'd quite like a go if anyone has one I can borrow.......
Triassic
Well-known member
See, I knew someone would bite.
No questions, no attempt to establish circumstances, background or experience, straight in there with the assumption that it was dangerous and illegal. You see the headline figure and that's it.
Pretty much sums up many of the posts on here about the powerboat incident.
Solitaire
Active member
There is a post on the mobo forum by one of the guys onboard.
smert
Active member
Traffic police?
Joker
Active member
One of the issues seems to be that of poorly marked fishing pots – something, I suspect, that we can all sympathise with. The report noted that the relevant authorities could not be held responsible for these dangerous floats.
How about this? The relevant authorities in the Southampton Water take one of their launches and haul out any fishing equipment that does not fulfil the necessary requirements. They confiscate this equipment and fine the fishermen who have put these illegal floats into the water.
If they were to do that, I think we would very soon see that all these detergent containers which litter our waters would very soon disappear.
How about this? The relevant authorities in the Southampton Water take one of their launches and haul out any fishing equipment that does not fulfil the necessary requirements. They confiscate this equipment and fine the fishermen who have put these illegal floats into the water.
If they were to do that, I think we would very soon see that all these detergent containers which litter our waters would very soon disappear.
mainsail1
Well-known member
Thanks, I had a read of what he had to say.
Two things struck me.
1. All focus on the boat crew safety, no apparent thought for surrounding public safety in what they were doing.
2. I quote one sentence "I would tend to lean towards a freak accident and not an avoidable one, albeit with certain provisos the consequences may have been greater or lesser."
That's all right then.
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l'escargot
New member
I believe Triassic is/was a "traffic" cop - entirely "safe" for him to drive at those speeds but ready and able to dish out a lecture, along with a ticket, to any lesser mortal who considers they are up to doing the same - unless they are on the water...
Triassic
Well-known member
Safe is a subjective word, because for something to be "entirely safe" it has to be completely risk free, and pretty much anything that involves movement isn't going to be that. Safety on the other hand is about risk management which involves reducing risk to an acceptable level and given their record I would suggest "traffic cops" are reasonably good at doing that when it comes to driving.
I used the analogy to demonstrate that you need to look beyond headline figures to form an educated opinion around an activity, not to start a debate on police driving. I'm quite sure someone will be able to produce a video on Youtube that shows a police driver getting it all wrong and argue they should all be in Nissan Micras (no offence Dylan).
This debate was about is it safe to do 100mph on Southampton water. My submission is that the risk can be managed to an acceptable level in the right circumstances however history shows that wasn't achieved on this occasion. If we condone applying the knee jerk reaction to events that some are advocating on here then ultimately the day will arrive when we won't be able to enjoy the freedom we currently do to take our own vessels off the dock.
Incidentally l'escargot I spent the vast majority of my career trying not to be associated with "traffic cops" so your sarcasm wasn't completely wasted on me.
RichardTaylor
Member
To use a quiet motorway analogy, if driving at 100mph on a quiet motorway then everything should be travelling in the same direction at relatively similar speeds (ie a wagon doing 50 mph v you doing 100mph), if there is a problem ahead there is a good chance there is good forewarning and there shouldnt be cyclists or pedestrians to hinder your progress.
On a quiet Southampton Water any user can be any size, going in any direction at any speed, (ie a Kayak may be doing 1 knot - 1/100th the speed - and will be almost invisible)
Motorsports (and testing) take place on closed roads (or circuits) where the public are kept seperate, the problem is at sea there isnt the same ability for separation
On a quiet Southampton Water any user can be any size, going in any direction at any speed, (ie a Kayak may be doing 1 knot - 1/100th the speed - and will be almost invisible)
Motorsports (and testing) take place on closed roads (or circuits) where the public are kept seperate, the problem is at sea there isnt the same ability for separation
Sandy
Well-known member
Are you suggesting that all high speed boating should be banned?
To me, and speed has no thrill, it appears that a highly skilled crew (with passengers) got snagged by a fishing float. A fishing float that was well camouflaged; as my friends in the military would say "blue on blue" and this case it almost killed the crew.