RYRA

[summerwind]

I have just read in the latest edition of PBO about the guy who bought an American built boat which is now lying in Turkey. He is worried about complying with the Recreational Craft Directions because his boat is only a few years old and hasn't been certified.

The advice he receives is that he should skulk through the Med via Cyprus and Gib so that he can get the boat certified in the UK.

This seems like a bloody great nonsense to me. He's got a newish boat which was built in the USA - not exactly a Third World country. The boat has either crossed the Atalantic and the Med or the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea to get to Turkey. I haven't made either voyage but it seems to me that achieving either is a pretty good indicator of the boat's worth. Why does the man need to have a bunch of busybodies crawl over his boat to see if he is compliant? To see that his gas bottle connections haven't got jubilee clips on them?

I feel we boaties have been pushed around too much. We need a new association - without rules - to fight back. I suggest we call it the Ram Your Regulations up your Ass(ociation).

What do you think?

 

[AndrewB]

So, where were you ...

... when we were (Marian Martin particularly) trying to mount some kind of defence, prior to implementation?

Yes, its about the big guys stuffing the little guys, and stopping the punters buying cheap. All the crocodile tears about safety never washed a hankie.

 

[trev]

I whole heartedly agree with you!! Where are the statistics to show that all this Mickey Mouse legislation has done anything except take money from boaters - but that was probably the intention anyway!!


Trev

 

[brian_neale]

Re: So, where were you ...

The RCD was designed to ensure a level playing field for boat builders across Europe, to ensure that no one country could hide behind local regulations which favoured local builders.

The net result has been enormous increase in the range of boats available from small and bespoke yards. Did not you not see them all at Earls Court, rejoicing in their opportunity to sell their products to all these eager foreign buyers?

I would also dare to suggest that lifeboat callouts will reduce markedly in the near future, as there will be many fewer Maydays of the "the spout has fallen off my kettle and if I do not get a cup of tea soon it will be a life or death issue" kind, as the RCD has improved the quality of such essential items of boat safety equipment.

I also note with satisfaction the reduction in callouts due to the increased level of competence of sailors generally, as it is now necessary to produce a Yachtmaster ticket in order to enter the marina. "No ticket, no entry. How you get the sea miles first is your problem, mate. More than my job's worth...".

Or is that next year?

 

[Col]

Re: So, where were you ...

Never been asked to produce any documentation before, what marina are you referring to?

 

[bedouin]

Re: Don\'t forget the safety aspect..

After all that is the reason they said they brought it in.

We had an excellent chance to see how well this is working last year when three boats went aground very close to each other on Bramble bank (as written up in Lifeboat). I believe that only one of these boats was CE marked - and therefore declared safe. The performance of that boat was certainly very different from the older (presumably not CE marked - therefore inherently unsafe) yachts.

Yer pays yer money - and yer gets no choice

 

[brian_neale]

Re: So, where were you ...

"What marina?" I thought that all marinas would be subject to these restrictions (sorry - safety rules) and in order to ensure compliance with safety regulations such inherently unsafe practices as the use of swinging moorings would be prohibited.

These regulations are for the comfort and convenience of all seafarers, and to promote greater competition and hence consumer choice. Sailing licences will be issued by a new agency staffed (for reasons of efficiency and demonstrated past performance) by ex-members of the outfit who used to issue VHF licences.

There will be a formal announcement of these new measures in the next PBO but one (if my calculations of cover dates is correct).

 

[Castletine]

Marina Regulation....

will never conform to the implementation of rules accepting competent sailors only ie the ticket.

Current acceptance of 'sailors' by Marinas is based on whether your wallet demands as big a berth as your gin palace!

I'm afraid that for all those old salts out there that even with the implementation of proof of competancy (ironic considering who the issuer is) that it just wont wash with the marinas - that's the job of the Gin Palaces!

 

[Guest]

Re regs in marinas.

Can you please make this clear to me..are you sure one will need yachtmaster cert?
..I can understand some qualification req...maybe day/coast skipper or even just
ICC ..There will be a lot of empty berths when all those that go out cant get back in! maybe a good time to think of upgrading bound to be a lot for sale ..or have i got it all wrong??

Beth

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: Re regs in marinas.

The 1st of April appears to have come early this year. Is that another EU/CE directive??

The CE stamp of approval was known to Aussies, quite a few years ago, as Chinese Exports. Anything European with the CE mark was looked upon as dodgy - of duboius quality.

regards,
Philip