Genetically disadvantaged, rant

[johnalison]

We spent a lovely afternoon on Saturday at Ipswich Haven with friends. At least it would have been nice except for a group of young children (all under 10) in inflatables buzzing round with outboard motors going more or less continuously until we went out for a meal at 7.30, and then again until we left midday Sunday.

It was no surprise to find they had all come from large craft that looked like capsized steam-irons occupied by loud-mouthed parents looking on approvingly. The marina staff didn't seem bothered in spite of comments from us, though one or two yachtsmen tried to discourage them, including a visiting Dutchman.

Civilised harbours in this country normally ban this behaviour, to everyone's benefit, and I acknowledge we have often been bothered by noise abroad, but with the current glorification of the internal combustion engine where is one to go for relaxation if this is to increase? This is not a rant against children. We have always enjoyed watching them crabbing, rowing, swimming and all the usual things, but I don't think there is much hope for a decent yachting environment if they are encouraged to cause such a disturbance in the course of their recreation.

 

[flaming]

having grown up around Ipswich, and spent my impressionable youth actually thinking that that town's nightlife was "good" and the behaviour of the local youths "normal" I can confirm that the average muppet in that sorry excuse for a town is very much in love with the massive 70hp that his Nova produces. So much so in fact that he channels 65hp of it into a stereo that makes buying new racing sails look cheap.
So it doesn't especially supprise me that you had an ignorant youngster problem in Ipswich Docks to be honest!

 

[srp]

This happens sometimes on the Medina - the parents like to sit on their boats drinking and talking while the kids buzz up and down the river out of their earshot and eyesight (but within everybody elses). Some of them are extremely young to be let loose in powered craft.
I think we are supposed to accept that this is normal responsible adult behaviour. Personally I call it downright ignorant.

 

[chuckaduck]

Apart from the nuicance factor which doesnt bother me too much

I do object to parents leaving their kids at an age too young ie less than 16 to their own devices in a dangerous environment ie water,I certainly would not let my son of 13 to be on the water on his own it is not because I am a whingeing pom but he most definitly could not deal with a life threatining crisis.

Apart from this as his father I am responsible for his well being untill he becomes of age and as such i have this reponsibility to bear

 

[alistairedw]

And presumably no lifejackets or killcords in use?

 

[paulburton44]

My kids love to play in the tender.......but no outboard...always with lifejackets....

Are we talking planning speed in ribs etc or 2.5hp roundtail dinghies

 

[sailorman]

hopefully not

 

[doug748]

Yep, the parents are all too happy to let them sod off and annoy anybody except themselves. Seems to be becoming the norm; tho I was pleased to see a group were given short shrift in St Peter Port last summer.

 

[johnalison]

Actually one had a kill-cord but it wasn't the engine I wanted to kill.

The point I wanted to make was; is it ever ethical to take one's pleasure at someone else's disadvantage/expense/discomfort?

 

[john_morris_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
I do object to parents leaving their kids at an age too young ie less than 16 to their own devices in a dangerous environment ie water,I certainly would not let my son of 13 to be on the water on his own it is not because I am a whingeing pom but he most definitly could not deal with a life threatining crisis.


[/ QUOTE ] Well that makes us completely irresponsible parents.

Last year our son (then age 13) graduated to using the outboard. The previous few years he and his sister have rowed everywhere. He is now chief taxi driver for when we want to go ashore, gash runs, messages to other boats we are sailing with asking them to come for drinks, fetching of milk, bread etc etc.

He always wears a lifejacket, always wears the kill cord, and is NOT ALLOWED to just drive the dinghy for fun and annoy people. The downside is that he is often looking for an excuse to do an errand, and we often have to say 'no thank you'!

Giving children independence when they have shown that they can be responsible is part of their growing up.

Sometimes we suggest that they take a copy of the chart and go and explore up a creek and tell us what they find. They draw and make notes of what they see, and they take the hand held VHF to keep in touch. They find such exploring very exciting, and often resort to oars when it gets too shallow. They know to go up on a rising tide, and to watch the tidal height to avoid being stranded. They also know that children in dinghys are very annoying to people who are enjoying peace and quiet, and I believe that they act very responsibly. An easy punishment is removing his dinghy driving opportunities.

The dinghy is a 3.1M avon with a 3.3 hp OB.

I am annoyed as anyone with kids who buzz about aimlessly, but I don't think we are irresponsible for letting our 13 year old drive the tender when he has a job to do.

 

[Judders]

It's what I like to call "the bonfire at the bottom of MY garden" syndrome

 

[johnalison]

I entirely support your approach. We also taught ours to use the O/B at that age, but we didn't have a VHF on our 26' boat then, let alone a handheld. They also knew how to sail, row and wash-up.

 

[alec]

I can quite understand why this was so frustrating and annoying.

But...............

Is this post going to change anything ? I doubt it.

Surely the most responsible course of action is to complain. Either to the parents or the marina staff.

Can I ask why you chose not to ?

 

[Birdseye]

Its the footballer syndrome for want of a better way of putting it. When you give money to people who dont know how to behave, you get this sort of lack of consideration for others. Might be the parents carving you up on the roads, or the kids making a nuisance of themselves in the marina, swearing like troopers and dropping litter all over. If you are daft enough to say anything to the kids, you are likely to get a mouthful of fishwife language from the female parent or physical threats from the male.

There isnt an answer. Britain is rapidly sliding into a loutish, lager swilling , ill mannered mess.

 

[Stork_III]

On an entirely different front, when we passed your boat on Saturday near Pye End, I could swear I saw that your portside HR sail logo appears to be back to front. Am I wrong? I hope so.

 

[tangofour]

[ QUOTE ]
There isnt an answer. Britain is rapidly sliding into a loutish, lager swilling , ill mannered mess.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup!

 

[awol]

[ QUOTE ]
There isnt an answer. Britain is rapidly sliding into a loutish, lager swilling , ill mannered mess.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another example of "Britain" being used when "England" would be more appropriate. Thank goodness we still have heavy and 80/- up here.

 

[johnalison]

Our logo is back to front because that's the way Kemp put it! I think it's because the rip-stop cloth is translucent and they thought it would look a mess if they did it any other way.

 

[dom]

Well I have two children who are allowed to use a tender with an engine and a considerably more powerful rib. My son 14 is in my opinion competent to use both. That said children will always misbehave sometimes. Were mine to be annoying you in the marina I would be only too happy to hear about it. You would most definitely not receive a mouthful from me - rather two contrite children offering to clean your decks! I think too many people have become far to cynical these days. Most people - but not all - IMHO are still decent souls.

 

[Wunja]

Is it possible that these children are merely exercising a rare taste of freedom, not normally being allowed beyond the garden gates unless fully enclosed by a 4X4.
I say this a the parent of a nine year old and feeling guilty that I don't have the nerve to to let him have the same freedon that I had as a kid, but then I'm more worried that he'll do something inappropriate to upset the neighbours!