Rowers and other Tw@ts...

[No Regrets]

Now I'm usually pretty easy going with other River users.

I slow down for Rowers, Cheerily wave at NB's, and happily nod at even Rental Boats.

Today however, the Rowers of Marlow surpassed even Rowers poor record of decency...

They had a Regatta on, so understandably there was a channel reserved for River traffic, but some plinth had made it horribly narrow, much of it under large bushy trees, so unusable to all but Skiffs, and despite the fact the b@stards had commandeered 90% of the total width the idiots were using it themselves too.

Oh, and in such style! 5 Tonnes of Broom bearing down on them at barely steering speed, 25 kt Sidewinds making helming hard work, and I the first rowers pulled out in front of me, and just stopped...

Once passed, the next idiots, this time in the pathetic little Motor boats which bark orders at the idiots in the skiffs, headed straight towards me, at a point I had nowhere to go, causing me to take evasive action in the form of hard astern, predictably causing NR to slew sideways, and then just bobbed off in another direction, leaving me to correct my course yet again.

The last straw was a bunch of Women who decided to launch their piece of floating plywood just ten seconds before I intersected them, once again leaving me no option but to 'hard a port' as reversing was not an option, even at 2mph.

It would be nice if somebody taught these cretins a few manners...only one of them bothered apologising.

 

[Richard Shead]

Fortunately I was moored at the Complete Angler so missed them all..

 

[No Regrets]

So did I, but only just

 

[Gumpy]

good job I wasnt up there in the barge it would have been carnage.
35ton does not stop on a sixpence and takes weeks to decide on a change in course.

 

[vandy]

I have had the same problems with some rowers...

I do rowing quite a lot and always tend to keep to starboard side but between Teddinggton - Putney they tend to row in the middle of the channel and then expect everybody to slow down for them.

Once I actually ended up arguing with a young lad who was so rude and abusive, and despite being patient and tried to politely tell him to just go away or stop so I pass him slowly he was rude...

The best thing to do is to just use your horn and warn them first, the rule says the smaller boats should not block the passage of a larger vessel, especially sicne your draft is bigger so you are technically covered by that rule.

 

[No Regrets]

Motor gives way to Sail etc? Does that not apply?

 

[byron]

Motor gives way to Sail etc? Does that not apply?

NO! NO! NO! . "If a vessel is restricted by draught and manoeuvrability etc."

 

[bradtarga34]

A row boat is also a powered craft, not like a sail boat which isn't...

 

[boatone]

Good little discussion starting here, including the occasional false interpretation of the very precise ColRegs which anyone interested enough can read in full HERE - highly recommended and pretty much incapable of misinterpretation if read carefully. Byron and I (and any other ex MN types) had to know them verbatim - marginally less exciting than learning the works of the Bard !

I also passed by at Marlow on Monday during the regatta and actually politely asked one of the escort zits to move out of "our bit" as he had lots of his own bit for the day. No audible reply but did shift so I felt my request had been complied with

As someone already said, the wind was a right PITA on Monday - and I also noticed the 'other boats' channel was on the Bisham side this year

Oh yes, one of the delights of my new vessel is that it creates very little wash at less than 5 knots. Nevertheless, doing barely 4knots and before I entered the restricted channel I was being gestured at to slow down.

Do spare a thought for the scullers though, can't be often they even see breaking waves in the Marlow stretch

Don't know if the EA have a rowers code of practice but intend to ask. Even saw an eight rowing into the lower cut at Marlow lock with no intention of passing through - just another example of inconsiderate use of the river.

 

[Richard Shead]

To be fair, the wind pushing against the current on Monday was enough to create more wash than they can deal with.

 

[Lakesailor]

Their risk assessment is available here

 

[BobMod]

Didn't make it as far as Marlow but chuffed to bits to hear the wind made things difficult for all on Monday.. I went out for the first time Bray to Penton Hook and just thought I was completely incompetent whilst reflecting on how quiet the river was for a glorious bank holiday monday.... I can now blame the wind....

 

[pande]

asked one of the escort zits to move out

Could you rephrase that please - nice little Zits may get offended

E

 

[BobMod]

Pande

Personally I would like to be an escort zit as you guys get to go faster than us to keep up with the rowers..

 

[No Regrets]

I sent a complaint to the Club.

In fairness, Mr Evans sent a nice polite response, and is acting upon the information received.

He apologised very nicely for any inconvenience. Fair play IMHO...

 

[pande]

Pande

Personally I would like to be an escort zit as you guys get to go faster than us to keep up with the rowers..

BobMod

My little Zit doesnot escort rowers she is a little boat in her own right and does not want to have anything to do with rowers or their escort boats. In fact she does not like the escort boats as we have more than our fair share of them going passed us and she is moored side on to the river so you can imagine that she does not like them He He

If you are ever in the Henley area - keep a look out for her - she's friendly

E