Rowers 0 Barnes Bridge 1

It's hard to sympathise with people who overtake you on the inside/have little friends in powered boats accompanying them at speed, while we can't exceed 5mph/stop sideways in front of you/ and ignore you almost entirely at most times, unless it's to hurl abuse.

With a few exceptions, I despise most of the rowers I come across. The next idiot who stops in front of, or pulls out in front of me, actually might get unlucky in fact :)
 
You have to feel sorry for the bridge. No way did it deserve that. I'm going to report the rowers to the RSPCB.

Made my day. Thanks for posting.
 
I think the problem was the bridge had been in hiding, last time I was down there it was covered in sheeting, and they forgot it was there.
 
I have to say my sympathy has declined significantly recently based on two incidents.

1. I was boxed in by two crews near Pangbourne taking up the centre of the river and a third then stopped broadside in front of me leading to an emergency stop. OK we can all make mistakes but perhaps a wave or apology - no, never even looked up coach or crew. 13 tonnes of boat would have woken them up had I not been able to stop.

2. Why, when i courteously slow down for a stationary crew, do they wait until they are alongside and then go so I am then forced to essentially spend the whole reach waiting for them. If they are fast, go before I get there. If they are slow, let me go past and get out of their way.
 
As tempting as it is to tar them all with the same brush, I image that so many of them have been on the receiving end of inconsiderate motor boaters that some have decided that the best form of defence is attack. The attitude I've witnessed is "we refuse to be bullied and we're standing our ground", though that doesn't explain why the chap with the loud hailer and an outboard would want to come alongside in the early hours of Sunday morning, make a sharp turn, dump a load of wash my way and then start a race next to my bed at 7am.

Apparently they've been starting at the same point for a hundred years, but as I pointed out in my pajamas, it use to involve a bicycle, a cone that didn't take batteries and a cox without a chip on his shoulder.
 
Whilst no doubt rowers have inevitably been treated inconsiderately by some boat owners surely when they pass someone like me, who not only slows down for them but in most instances is barely moving because I'm in neutral, is it really beyond the wit of these people to indicate even the smallest measure of appreciation.
 
I totally agree, just a nod of the head would do. I've been acknowledged in the past, but rarely. Good manners only seem to matter to those that have them I'm afraid.
 
Last edited:
Rowers have gone up in my opinion. Last year in the Olympics there was an event 'the cocks less fours'. That has to be the ultimate in dedication.
 
Last edited:
Actionmat said:
I totally agree, just a nod of the head would do. I've been acknowledged in the past, but rarely. Good manners only seem to matter to those that have them I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

Sppot on keep hoping to meet polite scullers and the wait continues
Made the mistake of mooring overnight in Henley fri night so Saturday at 7 first of the scullers came past safety boat rocking awake all sleeping boaters on that stretch bloke on a bike with megaphone screaming at rowers peddling as fast as he can to keep up and shouting right across the faces of peeps walking the path.....it is there river after all .
Then at Wargrave a historic sculling event was taking place with the old wooden skiffs and most the river coned off for the racing when in the navigation bit one of the above overtakes me in the narrow nav bit just as African Queen holiday barge [QE2] is heading downstream...I had to stuff my bow into the bank running aground in the process or mangle them between me and the African Queen .
What is it that makes educated ,professional peeps turn up to the rowing club get changed to Row/safety boat man/Megaphone cycle lunatic and morph into c^%s .
I ;like seeing the river used by many user groups but any sympathy for the sinking at barnes evaporated yesterday .
If they were only to say thaks when peeps slow or stop for them or they are in the wrong navigation wise they would save some of the bad feeling ....evcen the event with the wooden one above no apology...rant over
 
No Regrets said:
It's hard to sympathise with people who overtake you on the inside/have little friends in powered boats accompanying them at speed, while we can't exceed 5mph/stop sideways in front of you/ and ignore you almost entirely at most times, unless it's to hurl abuse.

With a few exceptions, I despise most of the rowers I come across. The next idiot who stops in front of, or pulls out in front of me, actually might get unlucky in fact :)
Click to expand...

I think I may have to leave this forum if No Regrets get any more sensible !! I have read with interest his last few comments and have been amazed how erudite and dare I say it, even completely correct , on several occasions no less:)have been. I was seriously impressed with his comments on Byrons thread about clubs in decline , and here he goes again with yet more sense about rowers............Im worried.
Do you think that having a huge throbbing motor at his disposal now has given him that air of statesmanship that seems to come with an increase in boat length? or am I dreaming?:p
 
Geoffs said:
Rowers have gone up in my opinion. Last year in the Olympics there was an event 'the cocks less fours'. That has to be the ultimate in dedication.
Click to expand...

Indeed, also you must have noticed how Bradley flipping Wiggins is even more all over the road since he won the TdF. I hope we do well in wrestling at the next Olympics then perhaps our rivers and roads will be a little quieter.........although nocturnal antics in the bedroom may take a turn for the worse ( I wish :o)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

zoidberg
A bit breezy?
Replies
2
Views
309
zoidberg
zoidberg
Frogmogman
My next boat.
2 3
Replies
40
Views
1K
fredrussell
F

Share this page

Top