Kingston and Teddington - Busy times.

Well it was quite quiet as far as normal boating went.

Heard there was an incident with the Connaught and a regatta launch at Ravens Ait............ but otherwise nothing out of the ordinary.

Good sunny day. Rebellion and others have burnt shoulders........:( but I'm OK :D
 
SnowCat said:
Well it was quite quiet as far as normal boating went.

Heard there was an incident with the Connaught and a regatta launch at Ravens Ait............ but otherwise nothing out of the ordinary.

Good sunny day. Rebellion and others have burnt shoulders........:( but I'm OK :D
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Sun ???? :rolleyes:
 
A short cruise just upstream of Kingston only to be yelled at by an appalling old trout of an umpire with a megaphone who took great pleasure in using it.
I was only ticking over a about 2knots and turning away to head upstream, but she had to have a go....
My first time out after years on the Tidal...i hope this isn't the norm!

I have written to Kingston Rowing Club telling them that this woman needs a lesson in PR if they wish to maintain good relations with other river users.
 
snapper said:
A short cruise just upstream of Kingston only to be yelled at by an appalling old trout of an umpire with a megaphone who took great pleasure in using it.
I was only ticking over a about 2knots and turning away to head upstream, but she had to have a go....
My first time out after years on the Tidal...i hope this isn't the norm!

I have written to Kingston Rowing Club telling them that this woman needs a lesson in PR if they wish to maintain good relations with other river users.
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Think I might get me one of those megaphones to return fire:)
 
I'm not trying to be argumentative -

snapper said:
A short cruise just upstream of Kingston only to be yelled at by an appalling old trout of an umpire with a megaphone who took great pleasure in using it.
I was only ticking over a about 2knots and turning away to head upstream, but she had to have a go....
My first time out after years on the Tidal...i hope this isn't the norm!

I have written to Kingston Rowing Club telling them that this woman needs a lesson in PR if they wish to maintain good relations with other river users.
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BUT sometimes I wonder if it's fear of the unknown:-

Motor boats are such an unusual sight to rowers (not flippant, but mostly they have the River to themselves in the week and early mornings) that they are in fear.

All sorts of craft behave as if they are totally unaware of any one else, at least that's how it appears to me when a vessel in front of me performs an unexpected manoeuvre (happens on the roads too).

So, looking at it from the Old Trout's point of view it may be a mixture of:-

  • Fear of the unknown
  • and/or
  • what is this other boat about to do (you did say you were turning?)


I know I would and do what she did, except my response is five blasts (and suffer the recriminations from The Management as she is deafened by the noise).

Sorry that spoils the thread, but sometimes, just sometimes there's good cause.
 
Not quite sure where you were turning but it sounds like you may have been on th Kingston bank. I expect she was just trying to warn you about the rowers racing and not to either block the navigation channel or to stray across the buoys onto the rowing course as there were rowers racing every four mins.

Most megaphone instructions are short, sharp and to the point, mainly intending to provide safety to the river users. Unfortunately, this can be misinterpreted and easily cause offence.
Hope this clarifies matters.
 
boatone said:
Be interested to hear how many 'regular' boaters are actually out on the river over the weekend.

We went from Penton Hook to Teddington and back this weekend. Not many boats out but weather not as bad as forcast. Got back to PH at lunchtime, suspect next week will not be good for those out on the river.

Passed the Regatta on both days, and today, going up steam around 3 knots about 10.00am actually got a friendly wave from two of the safety boats and one of the coaching boats.
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SnowCat said:
Not quite sure where you were turning but it sounds like you may have been on th Kingston bank. I expect she was just trying to warn you about the rowers racing and not to either block the navigation channel or to stray across the buoys onto the rowing course as there were rowers racing every four mins.

Most megaphone instructions are short, sharp and to the point, mainly intending to provide safety to the river users. Unfortunately, this can be misinterpreted and easily cause offence.
Hope this clarifies matters.
Click to expand...

I hadn't reached anywhere near the regatta. This creature was seemingly guarding the upper end. When I said with a smile that it all looked rather busy ahead and was turning to head away upriver, she scowled and tutted and muttered something about motor cruisers shouldn't be allowed. Honestly, the woman looked as if she was chewing a raw lemon. She was under no pressure whatsoever but was just thoroughly enjoying screaching through a megaphone trying to embarass people.
I was seething for quite a while afterwards and almost turned back to insult the witch but thought better of it.
I really hope rowers and their coaches etc don't ruin my enjoyment of the river, otherwise I may feel like relocating back to the Tidal Thames where i had no grief in 8 years.
 
That's good of them.

I do note that many associated with rowing, say, in the past may be connected with motor boats etc now, and vice versa. Also, with knowledge and/or experience of other types of boats it usually helps you to appreciate and anticipate potential problems from the other river users.:)
 
Thanks, many years ago I used to row on the River Wey at Guildford so i do have some appreciation of rowers and when their concerns are genuine rather than habitual.

I hope to become a regular poster here of my Thames travels.
 
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