Nanny State

[mirabriani]

I sail for enjoyment and relaxation. I consider myself a safe sailor, considerate and good humoured.
However I find it depressing that in two recent posts, (registration, Old Harry and Look Whats Coming, Jules) It appears that we are likely to be forcibly saddled by bureaucratic nannying. This on top of substantial likely increases in fuel.
Perhaps we should become more like our European cousins and take early action against these overbearing restrictions.
These forums are useful in giving early warning of likely happenings, but united and heavy opposition is needed for success.
Time for revolution
I'll stand back and leave it to you then!
Briani


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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I am not a member of the RYA.

But it appears to me the above organisation seems to be showing its belly to the Govn. on every issue flowing from Parliament. Maybe Brian is right and it is time to stand up and be counted and fight for our 'FREEDOM'.

Count me in on anything up to hiring hitmen and blowing up Parliament on November 5th, though a gentle persuasion may change my mind.

I have said in posts before, just watch what happens in an average marina at the weekend. People move big and small boats in and out all day without incident. Occasionally a single incident will result in a few tuts and sighs, but other than taking a few runs to get a boat alongside in gusty conditions there is nothing for licensing or training to solve, at all.

I think everyone who sails from busy ports and harbours in this country on the whole, 99.9% does a fabulous job and shows skill levels that put driving or biking to shame.

So please, nanny, stay away or you will get our wrath, well at least mine anyway.



<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Vara]

I recently bought a ladder and in the safety guide lines it details the fatalities and injuries caused by their use,I also read annually the shocking number of casualties and deaths caused by gardening and general DIY work.
As yotties I think that as a body we should canvass the Government and demand Licensing,a regulatory body,licensed teaching establishments,certificates,and taxation on all of these activities.
With a concerted campaign they will have to act and while so overwhelmed by the volume of legislation required they may leave us alone!!
It would also help me by providing an excuse for sailing when theres work to be done at home---"Sorry darling I'm not licensed to do that"/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

When candidates for Parliament come canvassing before the next general Election you might raise the point...

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[Cobra]

Ladders? PAH!

I picked a new laptop up last week...a sticker alongside the mouse pad reads

IMPORTANT NOTICE
For comfortable and safe use, read the
Safety and Comfort Guide.

Strange, I thought that it was a laptop, not a dangerous implement!

On the Nanny state and boating, surely it is just another excuse to create more jobs for the boys in Whitehall? Face it, if they decide they are going to do it no matter how much we shout and scream, they will do it! Maybe, just maybe if the RYA were to be PROACTIVE rather than re-active, then this daunting spectre of legislating waterborne activity would NEVER have reared its head.

<hr width=100% size=1>When God invented time he didn't give me enough of it. ND!

 

[Jules]

Like you, I find the whole issue of government "fixing" problems that are not there immensely depressing. I am lucky, I suppose, in that I sail in a quiet area where waterbourne officials are rare, although I have been boarded twice in Donegal by Customs (drug enforcement). Strangely, I found that rather re-assuring.
I would not, however, feel the same about the same people boarding my boat to tell me to make my children wear PFD's. I feel the technique would be the same as the patronising traffic policeman who stopped me a while back for doing 35 in a 30 and when he saw my children in their seats told me I should know better.
why I didn't kill him there and then I will never know.
Please tell me what I can do apart from standing for Parliament. Even then I would be a minority among a crowd who want to BAN foxhunting, for C*ristssake.
Hi ho.......

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[Sybarite]

Sorry to raise the French side of things again. Many years ago the French proposed to apply road tax to motor bikes. After a few thousand bikers started a series of go-slow drives through Paris and around the "périphérique", the authorities changed their mind.

The bikers also formed their own mutual insurance company to combat the astronomical rates being applied to bikes.

As far as the restrictive legislation concerning boats is concerned, the boaters are voting with their feet (boats) and are re-registering their boats abroad, mainly in Belgium. The impact of this is for the French authorities to officially rethink their legislation so that a more pragmatic approach is adopted.

Only concerted effort works in getting things changed. Only you can judge if the RYA is effective in this. I hear a lot of grumbling but I don't see any commitment to action.

John



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