Message for Jet Ski (PWC) tearing through Mersea Moorings 7/7/13

[Captain Haddock]

Had a lovely day today sat on a mooring at West Mersea, lovely weather and even had a few dips in the water to cool down.

Lots of kids out on dinghies and kayaks too being coached and generally having a good time. Lots of ribs, Jet ski's, sailing boats, motor boats all getting along just fine. All quite nice really until a particular Jet Ski decided to tear up and down through the mooring trots at 20+ knots. I watched amazed as the Jet Ski (PWC) ripped through the trots, even close to the bank!... One false move and they could have hit a submerged post at 20+ knots.

It wasn't just one rider though it was a single Jet Ski with different riders tearing around some adults with kids and sometimes just the kids on their own on the same Jet Ski. It was dangerous, really dangerous for the riders and for others. There were many attempts to catch the riders attention by other boat users but they were pretty much ignored or had the finger flipped at them. Occasionally they were stopped someone rebuked them but then they were off again.

I managed to get a look at the Jet Ski number emblazoned across the side when it did slow down. The number was SW662 although I don't think there's a regulatory body is there? So not much use.

I doubt anybody can do anything about this as there is no harbour master at Mersea to my knowledge to Police the waters.

However, in the hope somehow, someone knows who the owner of this PWC is please relay this message...

"Please don't rip through any moorings at high speed. There's a lot of youngsters out there learning, families learning on sail boats and motor boats. Your high speed could kill somebody or yourself should you hit another person, a submerged mooring, tangle in a trailing line or simply lose control. Letting kids that appeared to be below the age of 16 control your PWC by themselves without an adult at the same high speed defies sense and could have tragic consequences."

Am I an official? A busy body? A kill joy? A member of a club? Do I want them banned? Hate the things? Nope... I'm just another water user who is concerned for the safety of the PWC riders and other water users that's all.

Many thanks for reading.

 

[ChattingLil]

+1. I love jetskis. But they do have to be used in the right place and with consideration.

 

[cookjwm]

We do have a water bailiff at Mersea, part time I'm afraid and with wide ranging duties along the whole waterfront which spreads him a bit thin.. Talking to him this morning he tells me that the police who were called, declined to be interested. Then a number of people along with him went and had a chat......without much effect.then a local man who is a policeman off duty ( and very well built!) turned up and showed him his warrant card, that got more interest.

all as related by water bailiff, was not there myself.


Shame, everyone has a place on the water I think but this type of thing.....

 

[ex-Gladys]

Was at Burnham Yacht Harbour weekend before last and was slightly bemused to see the ALert and the two large ribs moored up at what one would anticipate was the time when you would expect them to be out...

 

[Bru]

Was at Burnham Yacht Harbour weekend before last and was slightly bemused to see the ALert and the two large ribs moored up at what one would anticipate was the time when you would expect them to be out...

And on the Monday following, Alert and no less than FOUR Police RIBs convoyed out of the Crouch and turned right at the Whitaker (after one of the RIBs came sniffing around Brigantia in the vicinity of Whitaker 3)

 

[Fire99]

Should have told the Police that there appears to be someone with a shotgun who's about to shoot the Jet Ski. That would wake them up.

Jet Ski's are a bit of a shame.. I like 'em for a quick blast but sadly their pace and relative ease of getting on the water (without seemingly any rules or restriction) does seem to make them a bit of a loose cannon on the water.

However, and it's a shame to say it, ultimately the water needs more Police presence beyond looking for 'drug busts' but the water equivalent of 'grass roots' policing.

 

[DanTribe]

The number SW662 sounds like a membership of South Woodham Water Ski Club, who are a well organised and respectable club who control most of the jet ski and water ski use on the Crouch. ID numbers are a requirement under Crouch Harbour Authority rules.
Of course the number doesn't mean the owner is still a member and the club has no authority over Mersea, but they may be able to "have a word" with the current owner.

 

[Fire99]

The number SW662 sounds like a membership of South Woodham Water Ski Club, who are a well organised and respectable club who control most of the jet ski and water ski use on the Crouch. ID numbers are a requirement under Crouch Harbour Authority rules.
Of course the number doesn't mean the owner is still a member and the club has no authority over Mersea, but they may be able to "have a word" with the current owner.

Sounds a good plan.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Had a look at South Woodham Water Ski Club website and their FAQ states...

Can I use a jet ski at the club?
There is a strict club policy of NO jet skis.

May be worth an ask regardless.

 

[Cantata]

Off Brightlingsea today, a few PWCs tore past heading north, then a few moments later, the Police RIB apparently in Hot Pursuit. Dunno how fast it was going as it was a bit blurred. Must have caught them I guess, being a dead end...!

 

[DavidofMersea]

Off Brightlingsea today, a few PWCs tore past heading north, then a few moments later, the Police RIB apparently in Hot Pursuit. Dunno how fast it was going as it was a bit blurred. Must have caught them I guess, being a dead end...!

I was a Wivenhoe regatta to day, and the Police were there in force - There were two Police PWC and a great RIB with 4 crew. There was no bother at the regatta, and I suspect there were just having jolly, all 6 of them - Cutbacks? What cut backs?

 

[Fire99]

I was a Wivenhoe regatta to day, and the Police were there in force - There were two Police PWC and a great RIB with 4 crew. There was no bother at the regatta, and I suspect there were just having jolly, all 6 of them - Cutbacks? What cut backs?

Without wanting to intentionally bash the Police, Maldon was quite a hive of activity with young cadets sailing etc and dare I say more than the odd jetski being pillocks around them. A hint of presence by the Police wouldn't have been out of place.

 

[sailorman]

We do have a water bailiff at Mersea, part time I'm afraid and with wide ranging duties along the whole waterfront which spreads him a bit thin.. Talking to him this morning he tells me that the police who were called, declined to be interested. Then a number of people along with him went and had a chat......without much effect.then a local man who is a policeman off duty ( and very well built!) turned up and showed him his warrant card, that got more interest.

all as related by water bailiff, was not there myself.


Shame, everyone has a place on the water I think but this type of thing.....

the Essex plod rib was tearing about Friday & Saturday around the Blackwater estuary seemingly going nowhere but on a jolly

 

[DavidofMersea]

the Essex plod rib was tearing about Friday & Saturday around the Blackwater estuary seemingly going nowhere but on a jolly

I am certainly not anti Police. However, there does seem to be a lot of waste and incompetence. We have the OP talking about some idiot going through the moorings at high speed and somebody else telling us "We do have a water bailiff at Mersea, Talking to him this morning he tells me that the police who were called, declined to be interested". ..... and there were 2 Police PWC's and a 4 man RIB at Wivenhoe regatta, with nothing to do. The Police cannot be everywhere, but with 6 of them at Wivenhoe Ragatta, other places were left un-policed

 

[Fire99]

Is there an official contact for complaint? Not 100% certain of what will come of it but certainly worth telling the powers at be that public perception of a unit which is being reviewed, doesn't appear to be very good.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Should have told the Police that there appears to be someone with a shotgun who's about to shoot the Jet Ski. That would wake them up. .

Ah sadly just perhaps its all down to stated and logged incidents, each with a priority;

a man with a gun = urgent priority

a jet ski causing problems = low priority

suggest - fighting between people on boats = high priority

A response it activated by the priority, perceived or real, so suggest , as above, over egg it a wee bit?

We can all get it wrong, can't we? sorry Officer; but whilst you are here officer!

 

[Fire99]

Ah sadly just perhaps its all down to stated and logged incidents, each with a priority;

a man with a gun = urgent priority

a jet ski causing problems = low priority

suggest - fighting between people on boats = high priority

A response it activated by the priority, perceived or real, so suggest , as above, over egg it a wee bit?

We can all get it wrong, can't we? sorry Officer; but whilst you are here officer!

Yeah that's how I'd see it.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I've had a little whinge via the Essex Police feedback page. Hopefully it doesn't land entirely on deaf ears.

 

[xyachtdave]

Whilst enjoying the land of Queenborough last night, a trio of jet ski riders entered the harbour, bombing round in circles creating loads of wash over each other.

The looked like they were having a great time splashing each other etc - the 30 or so visiting boats didn't look as if this stunning display of jet ski handling was adding much to their evening, apart from noise and spilt drinks.

Enter scary fisherman working on a boat...he gave them 'both barrels' (verbally unfortunately...!) and to my surprise they instantly started behaving themselves.

Bless em, the saying 'the weather brings them out,' - so true!

 

[mrming]

A jet skier ripped up and down straight through the start line of the Medway regatta several times on Saturday. Race committee said on the radio the police had been notified. I didn't see any action being taken. There were loads of kids out in dinghies. Medway speed limit is 5 knots - the guy was going pretty much flat out.

 

[Fire99]

Well I've had a response back from the Sargent of the Essex Police Marine Unit so I'll hopefully enter some communication regarding people's concerns.