Licence for Estuary question

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Bridgo

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Could somebody please let me know what licence/test I need to go into the Estuary area near Chichester. I've been in Oz for the last 2 years and have an Australian boating licence, does this count in this country?
Also what are the legals you need i.e. life jackets, flares etc?
Thanks in advance,
Steve.
 
In UK with a boat under 13 metres or so, there are no legal requirements about safety equipment, boat registration, boat handling qualifications or any of that sort of stuff. Common sense dictates you should take some safety gear and have an understanding of the waters where you intend to go sailing but legally, nothing is required, provided you aren't seeking to charge folks for the ride.
Oh, and welcome to the forum!
 
Hi,
So there's no legal requirement for a Skippers ticket or something like that?
In Australia I had to take a Skippers test which comprised of a written exam, and also a practical!
I also had to have flares, life jackets of a certain grade, radio and an epirb safety device which all makes sense to me.
By the way I have all the above apart from an epirb on a little Shetland I've rebuilt from scratch.
Thanks for the reply,
Steve.
 
Hi Duncan,
Thanks for that it really surprised me. In Oz, where I've lived for a couple of years I had to takes written and practical exam for a Skippers ticket, the boat had to be fitted out with a Radio, life jackets, flares and an epirb emergency device.
All this is common sense to me along with as you said some knowledge of the waters you intent to navigate in.
Thanks for the reply, it sounds like the UK needs tightening up a bit!
Cheers,
Steve.
 
duncan99210 said:
In UK with a boat under 13 metres or so, there are no legal requirements about safety equipment, boat registration, boat handling qualifications or any of that sort of stuff. Common sense dictates you should take some safety gear and have an understanding of the waters where you intend to go sailing but legally, nothing is required, provided you aren't seeking to charge folks for the ride.
Click to expand...

...apart from carrying a description of distress signals.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
...apart from carrying a description of distress signals.
Click to expand...

That's just one of his obligations under SOLAS V. http://www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/regssafety/pleasurecraftregs/Pages/SOLASV.aspx

He'll also need to comply with Colregs, of course.

If a VHF set is installed a ship radio license, free from Ofcom : http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/

To use the above VHF set a certificate of competence to operate it. Just a short RYA course.
 
Bridgo, you do realise that, by posting your question on here, the good members of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy Board will be going into overload in trying to work out how they can implement such a system of licensing in order to extract even more revenue from the poor boater! :ambivalence::D
 
Bridgo said:
Now I'm really confused!
Click to expand...

You don't need any qualifications or license to take a small boat to sea, but there are a few requirements as listed on that RYA page, like a radar reflector & a page describing distress signals (it's in every almanac or you can print it from the web). They come from the SOLAS V convention, of which Oz is a signatory, so no different from at home.

If you have a VHF or EPIRB then there are a few requirements for licencing.

In reality, unless you are involved in an accident with major consequences so that the MAIB come investigating, noone will ever check.
 
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As explained you don't have to have any paper qualifications at all to go boating (though common sense helps) but if you are going to be in Chichester Harbour you will need to pay harbour dues to the Conservancy.
 
Bridgo said:
..... it sounds like the UK needs tightening up a bit!
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Hmmm .... very controversial!

What problem(s) do you see in the UK that need fixing. eg are our boat-related accident/ injury statistics worse than USA, Australia, Germany, etc? I recall a comparison some years ago, that showed the UK in a very good light on this.

What legislation do you propose to fix that problem?

What measures will need to be introduced to enforce your legislation?

The RYA have long held the view that voluntary education gives higher standards that compulsory licensing.
 
If you are venturing around Chichester harbour you need to pay harbour dues, daily, weekly, monthly or annually at the Harbour office in Itchenor or on line (but you have to wait for the harbour plaque to arrive). But apart from that in this country you can just launch your boat anywhere in tidal waters (maybe a fee for using a slip or hard), and get on with enjoying it! Most harbour authorities (including Chichester) stipulate minimum third party insurance, but nobody ever checked whether I have cover! Once you are out of the harbour in the Solent, the only people who may stop you are UK border force to see how many illegal immigrants you have aboard! Only happened to me once in the 30 years I've been sailing from Chi so even thats pretty unlikely!

Come and enjoy! Itsa beautiful place. :)
 
NealB said:
Hmmm .... very controversial!

What problem(s) do you see in the UK that need fixing. eg are our boat-related accident/ injury statistics worse than USA, Australia, Germany, etc? I recall a comparison some years ago, that showed the UK in a very good light on this.

What legislation do you propose to fix that problem?

What measures will need to be introduced to enforce your legislation?

The RYA have long held the view that voluntary education gives higher standards that compulsory licensing.
Click to expand...

One of the real problems in Oz perhaps stems from better weather and almost all kids being taught to swim. Almost every young blade after buying a car buys a run about boat on a trailer with large O/B. Then thinks it can't be any different to driving a boat and off they go. Frequently running into trouble in bad weather or with engine failure etc. Hence so many rescues for this kind of craft and so rules for all boaters. olewill
 
Bridgo said:
Hi Duncan,

Thanks for the reply, it sounds like the UK needs tightening up a bit!

Steve.
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Regulation for its own sake? No thanks. As others have said, better show us the evidence before making that kind of observation.

Enjoy your unregulated sailing (or whatever it is you plan) :)
 
To be honest I know nothing about stats between the countries, it was only an observation. I've never seen so many Catania and passengers drunk, one guy fell over 3 times on the slip then off he went in his Ute!
As someone mentioned the coastguard are very busy due to chancers, running out of fuel etc.
Whilst returning back from a fishing trip we nearly hit a tinny anchored up with no lights in a really busy part of the ocean near Freemantle.
I'll leave it there.....
 
Bridgo said:
To be honest I know nothing about stats between the countries, it was only an observation. I've never seen so many Catania and passengers drunk, one guy fell over 3 times on the slip then off he went in his Ute!
As someone mentioned the coastguard are very busy due to chancers, running out of fuel etc.
Whilst returning back from a fishing trip we nearly hit a tinny anchored up with no lights in a really busy part of the ocean near Freemantle.
I'll leave it there.....
Click to expand...

And this level of seamanship is displayed in a country with testing. Rather undermines the whole argument you are making for regulations in our country doesn't it?

Or do the Australian regs insist on minimum levels of alcohol in the bloodstream before casting off, maximum amounts of fuel that can be carried, banning of lights etc?

One thing you will find in the UK is that everything is allowed until parliament bans / regulates it. Parliament will only ban / regulate things when there is evidence that banning or regulating will improve the situation enough to warrant all the bureaucracy that policing it will entail. so drink boating is covered by local bylaws in most places. Harbours will tend to have speed limits in busy areas or will designate certain areas for high speed craft. Break those limits and you can be fined.

The rest of it doesn't really impact anyone else. If you want to cross the solent in a pedalo shaped like a swan then knock your self out. - just don't obstruct anyone else.
 
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