Good for Chichester harbour patrol

[Cutter]

Magistrates handed out £2000 in fines and costs this week to two
speeders in Chichester Harbour.

In the first case, Mr Ivan Snell of Hayling Island was followed by the
Harbour Patrol for about ¾ mile while he travelled at 26 knots in a
black RIB. The harbour speed limit is 8 knots and is well advertised at
all launch points. The offence took place on a Sunday lunchtime in June
in the vicinity of East Head. This is traditionally a busy time and
place in Chichester harbour and potentially put other harbour users at
risk. Snell was fined £500 and ordered to pay £450 costs.

In the second incident, a Personal Watercraft was recorded travelling at
37 knots, more than four times over the speed limit. Mr Darrell Still of
Ewell, Surrey was stopped by the Harbour Patrol and cautioned. Jetskis
are allowed to use Chichester Harbour but as with all crafts must stay
within the 8 knot speed limit. Mr Still was fined £600 with £450 costs.

Deputy Harbour Master Richard Craven said, 'The harbour can get very
busy during the summer months. We will rigorously enforce the 8 knot
speed limit to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all users'.

 

[Vagabond]

Gosh ... I had better slow down then

I'll have to reef or be fined!

 

[Mirelle]

Good show - hope the idea spreads.

If the fines are high enough, and can be retained by the local authority, they would pay for proper river and harbour patrols, which my own river on the East Coast could certainly do with - what is the point of a speed limit that is never enforced?

 

[Sans Bateau]

I wonder if this was the culprit, or is this yet to be caught?

 

[Twister_Ken]

What about those rorty-snorty dinghies from HISC. I'm sure they often proceed at speeds in excess of 8 knots.

 

[Goldie]

Re: Same for Portsmouth please!

The sooner speeding boats are deterred from blantant disregard of the 10kt speed limit in Portsmouth the better. Actually though, it's not the speed per se that's a problem where we are, but the wash. I've started taking photographs to illustrate my point to QHM. Perhaps if others did the same it might help our cause?

 

[Sans Bateau]

Yes, they can and do exceed 8knts! Have you seen that hydroplane that sails in the harbour? Couldnt believe it the first time I saw the hull lift out of the water!

 

[rickp]

I do wonder if the black one was an HISC one. I also wonder if it was the one that came into Sparkes on the plane once....

Rick

 

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, they can and do exceed 8knts! Have you seen that hydroplane that sails in the harbour? Couldnt believe it the first time I saw the hull lift out of the water!

[/ QUOTE ]the chances of TK being anywhere near a hull that lifts out of the water are pretty slim!

(sorry, poor pun. hangs head in shame and wonders off as black pots and kettles come to mind /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif)

 

[Twister_Ken]

"the chances of TK being anywhere near a hull that lifts out of the water are pretty slim!"

Whaddya mean - I'm normally there when the travelhoist takes Indigo out of the water.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I'm curious. Is the justification for the speed limit (which I support) based on that of wash or ability to avoid an accident? Wash is clearly discriminatory and, if the limit does only apply to motor craft, this does seem to be the case. Now a nice little cat clipping along at 11 knots in a nice fresh breeze, sails obstructing his forward vision, he is immune to the speed limit.

Wash is not just a function of speed but also hull form and size. Quality of lookout does not feature.. Ability to avoid collision is a function of manoeverability, vision and speed. Quality of lookout is vital.

Seems irrational to me.

 

[DJE]

I read somewhere (Chi Harbour Guide probably) that racing dinghies had an exemption from the speed limit but the onus was placed on them to avoid other craft.

 

[rickp]

As I've said before, I suspect the real reason is wash (speed limit doesn't apply to boats under sail alone) - but its a lot easier to prosecute someone breaking a speed limit (easily measureable) than it is someone creating an antisocial wake (alot tougher to measure both for users and enforcers).

"4. The master of a vessel navigating the harbour shall navigate the vessel with care and caution and in such manner as shall not cause annoyance to the occupants of any other vessel or cause damage or danger to any other vessel or to any moorings or other property.

5. The master of any power-driven vessel shall not, subject to the requirements of maintaining adequate steerage way and control, suffer or cause her to be navigated or driven in the harbour at a speed exceeding eight knots through, on or over the water, unless the consent in writing of the Harbourmaster has previously been obtained. Provided that this byelaw shall not apply to any vessel on any occasion when it is being used for Conservancy, police, fire-fighting or rescue operations in circumstances where such speed limit would be likely to hinder the use of the vessel for the purpose for which it was being used on that occasion. "

where power driven is defined as:

"‘power driven vessel’ includes any vessel propelled by machinery"

Rick

 

[fireball]

The speed limit only applies to any "Power driven vessel"

[ QUOTE ]
BYELAWS RELATING TO NAVIGATION
4. The master of a vessel navigating the harbour shall
navigate the vessel with care and caution and in such
manner as shall not cause annoyance to the occupants of
any other vessel or cause damage or danger to any other
vessel or to any moorings or other property.
5. The master of any power-driven vessel shall not,
subject to the requirements of maintaining adequate
steerage way and control, suffer or cause her to be
navigated or driven in the harbour at a speed exceeding
eight knots through, on or over the water, unless the
consent in writing of the Harbourmaster has previously
been obtained. Provided that this byelaw shall not apply to
any vessel on any occasion when it is being used for
Conservancy, police, fire-fighting or rescue operations in
circumstances where such speed limit would be likely to
hinder the use of the vessel for the purpose for which it was
being used on that occasion.

[/ QUOTE ]

So any vessel under sail is exempt from the 8 knot limit although it does tend to be the racing dinghies that exceed this limit.
There is currently a request (I don't think it is a Byelaw yet) for fast dinghies to keep clear of slower craft, and as I've said on many occaision it is much quicker for such a dinghy to avoid the slower vessel.

 

[fireball]

Ah bolx - you had the same idea as me /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Whitelighter]

[ QUOTE ]
"4. The master of a vessel navigating the harbour shall navigate the vessel with care and caution and in such manner as shall not cause annoyance to the occupants of any other vessel or cause damage or danger to any other vessel or to any moorings or other property.


[/ QUOTE ]

HISC would do well to remember that ruling.

 

[Vagabond]

The best time I have is flying past the motorboats heading for Chi Marina in Electra!

Hehehe.... shame I have to take the sails down to go up Itchenour reach.

 

[ColinHuggins]

Re: Dinghy racing in Chichester Harbour

So dinghy design has produced the Asymmetric type of highspeed racers. Which the Conservancy daren't ban, so they zap around aware (we hope) of their obligation to keep clear of us lesser mortals. And in the main they do, by my book.
BUT what about the coaches, trainers and rescue teams?
They zap round even faster in their RIB's giving encouragement, tuition and assistance, dashing from one boat to another.
Ban them? It's unthinkable. HISC would go out of business for a start!
This is a serious issue guys. And not peculiar to Chi I'm sure.
Does anyone know the 'official' policy on this from Harbourmasters, the RYA even?
It's the tail wagging the dog.
What are WE going to do about it?

 

[Whitelighter]

Re: Dinghy racing in Chichester Harbour

[ QUOTE ]
HISC would go out of business for a start!


[/ QUOTE ]

Shame! Seriously, I have been a dingy racer, but the arrogance and pig ignorance displayed by many members of the HISC is astounding. As a visitor, you'd think they owned the harbour. Power does give way to sail, and wherever possible I will give them room - even when there start/finish line is right across the deep water channel - not that they'll ever acknowledge it or give thanks.

 

[Rabbie]

Re: Dinghy racing in Chichester Harbour

And its not just HISC!. Scary,apprehensive, annoyed, and despairing, are a few of my feelings when a fleet of racing dinghies rapidly approach my old cruiser as I head for the sea quietly down Emsworth channel. Trying to pick my way through the melee, giving way to one forces me into the path of another and its nerve-wracking at times trying to avoid them. I have often thought there are far too many club races in Chi's busy and narrow channels for safety - at times. The day I get an acknowledgement from a dinghy racer for giving way, a pig will crash-land on Thorney.