DRUNK BOATING FINE

[William_H]

Re: DRUNK BOATING FINE

Hi Nicki I am mostly familiar with our small state (population wise) and for near 2 million people the loss of life in boating is a lot. Perhaps approaching that of UK. The Skippers ticket only came mandatory about a year ago but as I suggested rather than boating being a specialised hobby in UK it is often regarded as a natural right and activity of many young men here. (once youve got a car get a boat) And as i said in the most dangerous of boats ie over powered big enough to seem safe but easily swamped in a big sea.
So boating laws seemed a necesity, whether they reduce the loss of life is another question. I for one think you have to try.

 

[Refueler]

Re: DRUNK BOATING FINE

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Nicki I am mostly familiar with our small state (population wise) and for near 2 million people the loss of life in boating is a lot. Perhaps approaching that of UK. The Skippers ticket only came mandatory about a year ago but as I suggested rather than boating being a specialised hobby in UK it is often regarded as a natural right and activity of many young men here. (once youve got a car get a boat) And as i said in the most dangerous of boats ie over powered big enough to seem safe but easily swamped in a big sea.
So boating laws seemed a necesity, whether they reduce the loss of life is another question. I for one think you have to try.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tightening of boating laws and licencing came in here (Latvia) due to the number of incidents on rivers round Riga. Fishing is a very popular pastime here, summer and winter (Ice-fishing).
It's not unknown in winter for rescues of people who get cut of when an ice section breaks away.

Anyway there were incidents such as : High speed mobo at high speed careered over top of guy in a dinghy fishing. Killed the guy, mobo driver of course unhurt. And his gold medallions barely out of place.

It's a problem that just escalated and Latvian Authorities took action to try and curb. Result ? Officially successful, unofficially ? little change.

We even had the President himself caught out - He was photographed at the helm of a rasonable sized Mobo in Jurmula, (holiday home area near Riga) .... but he has no licence ! Monkey do ... eh?

 

[jerrycan]

Re: DRUNK BOATING FINE

The winchman was not lowered into the water but onto the shore to assist any potential casualties. Everybody onshore had obviously been drinking.

More importantly the aircraft was diverted off another job looking for a missing hillwalker. The call initially was to a sinking vessel in loch Earn with 10 people onboard.

When the aircraft arrived the boat had just about beached and 2 of the lads were in wetsuits in the water dragging it ashore. They had been in the water for 40mins or so and one in particular was very cold indeed and was taken to hospital for treatment for hypothermia.

I hope this clears up any speculation. The news reports sensationalise everything as usual!

The aircraft returned to the search for the missing walker and he was found safe and well.

 

[Refueler]

Re: DRUNK BOATING FINE

Thanks for the extra info - as you see from the news reports we had to go on in the thread - it was different enough to make some of us question the whole episode.