Hampshire Police Marine in pursuit up Southampton Water

[prv]

I had a lot of fun on jetskis in West Wales as a kid, so I’m definitely not a member of the grumpy old sailors moaning into their beer and fantasising about piano wire and bazookas. I quite like to see them out having fun in open water. Just not bombing past the moorings on the river or weaving through an anchorage where people are swimming.

Pete

 

[rotrax]

I worked for Kawasaki Motors UK Ltd.
During the late 70's they rented a gravel pit for development and testing their Jetski's.
I got plenty of opportunity to have a play and even a bit of personal tuition from John 'Cowboy' Cook, ex Speedway rider and American Jetski champion.
It was a blast.
But exciting as they can be, when tuned up and operated by hooligans they are a bloody menace.
First Mate and I assisted the Littlehampton Harbourmaster a couple of years ago to identify and subsequently fine two such irresponsible guys. They carved up a lady kayaking with her labrador sitting on her canoe. When she spoke to them about it she was threatened with violence.

Last year on the Hamble Harbourmaster's pontoon two jetskiers were roaring up and down the river. The HM's rib hid behind our motorsailer untill they came back where they were checked out and done for speeding.

Bloody good job too.

 

[MrB]

I had a lot of fun on jetskis in West Wales as a kid, so I’m definitely not a member of the grumpy old sailors moaning into their beer and fantasising about piano wire and bazookas. I quite like to see them out having fun in open water. Just not bombing past the moorings on the river or weaving through an anchorage where people are swimming.

Pete

I rode my first jet skis around West Wales too, loads of fun. I've also rode them in many other places but one place sticks out. I took one out on Clearwater Beach in Florida with my wife and remember asking the rental guy how far I can go? He pointed at the buoyed channel and the coastguard boat and said "when you follow that channel and get past that coastguard you can do what the F*@K you want as long as I can still see you! The CG boat was half a mile away! BIG fines if you broke the speed limit before the channel exit and the CG were enforcing it but it worked well, the jet skis were well off shore hooning about in the Gulf of Mexico and not anchorages . Worst sunburn I have ever had though lol. (Note to self, don't have a fixed grin and wear Ray Bans on a jet ski in the Gulf of Mexico, the sunburn will make you look a panda twat when you get off)