Windemere - RIP

[ontheplane]

I was up to Windemere this weekend to collect my new (well new to me) boat. (Fairline Weekender 21).

What a lovely place, lovely weather and best of all no-one else around to disturb the peace....!!!!

Yes that's right folks... The lake was absolutely DEAD, there were a couple of motorboats pottering and a couple of sailing boats, but for a beautiful, warm sunny early season day I was appalled at how dead it was... It appears that the speed limit has wrecked the tourist industry there, and it will be interesting (and I fear a little sad) to see what long-term effect it has on the economy...

I never thought it was a good idea to put a speed limit there, now I know it wasn't.

 

[Lakesailor]

Hey. Don't get it out of proportion. For one, my boat (raggie) is on the drive for it's bottom scrub, so there's another yacht you could have seen.
There were a lot more yachts out this weekend (believe me) but it was a bit calm on Sunday.
The Lake District as a tourist area is not going to die for lack of MOBOs. The skier's argument was that they only used 4% of the area's resources, so that's 96% left to occupy other people's time and interest.
We have a B&B and we only have two couples who stay with us who are boaty (raggies and Jetskiers) and the rest are mainly disinterested in boating other than a trip on the ferry. We have views of the lake, so further away the visitors are probably not at all interested.
So, there will be change in activity, there will be an exodus of MOBOs. We see them being trucked out daily (not new ones from Windemere Aquatic, but older ones with registration numbers on) and yes we have already seen many more displacement MOBOs and the odd Broads-type cruiser arriving.
But the area will not die as has been predicted. I still think it's been a shitty way of controlling the lake useage, and I'm sure that despite lot's of noise about appealling to the Court of Human Rights there will not be a reversal of the by-laws, so it's a case of using this as an opportunity rather than becoming obsessed with a campaign that's going to flounder.
Unfortunately the choices are stark. If you want to continue skiing, racing and power-boating you need to find somewhere else. Loch Lomond is a stop-gap as that is going to be next.
If you want to try more sedate boating, Windermere is still here. It's beautiful and has more to do and see and wonderful food to eat than you can find crammed into any other corner of the UK.
But if you're looking for inland power-boating in spectacular surroundings, (without disrespect to the Broads) I'm afraid it's gone and it won't return.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Actually, I for one will be far more likely to drive up the M6 now for a long weekend watching life go by beside the lake. Sorry, but last time I was there a few years back it was horrible, the background noise was unbearable.

I know it has affected many and I do sympathise, but do not understand travelling at 30kts on a lake which is what, 10 miles long? I dunno, not very long anyway. It must be like being a goldfish going around and around its bowl.

Tourists, well me if I am visiting, do not sit by a lake in awe of the powerboats and jet ski's, rather I would like them to bog off so I can sup my pint in peace and tranquillity.

I am, sorry to say it, I stayed quiet to not offend, but I am all for the restrictions on the lake, it just is not big enough to sustain the activity it was attracting. Keep on the A590 to Barrow and then you have a big bit of water to play with.

 

[itsonlymoney]

I too was on the lake this weekend and yes it was quiet compared to last year. Obviously no jet ski's and only a few open sports boats and some cruisers about. We moored at Low wood water sports centre for a while who contrary to media beleif are still in business offering wakeboard and knee boarding amongst other water activities.

I think that it will take twelve months or so for the lake use to evolve. Maybe a different breed of boater will appear, one who is not too bothered about speed and more interested in a leasurely cruise at 6Knots. I agree in part with "shipswoofy's" sentiments. I have stated many times on this forum that 30 knots up a ten mile lake does not take that long, and there are only so many times you can go around it before it is a little boring.

We have allways prefered a 6knot cruise taking in the scenery and relaxing in the tranquility of the lake. That was our preference and we chose to do it, equally it was the choice of some boat owners to open up the throttles for a good blast, unfortunately that choice is now gone. As for the point about the noise, weekenders tourists are not there during the week when the RAF constantly fly over Bowness at very low alltitude now that is a noise problem.

I have it on good authority that the lake wardens are at this time monitoring the situation closely, as yet no speeding offence has been actioned. It remains to be seen weather or not any one abides to the speed limit indefinetely, but you can be sure that there remains an element of boaters who's enjoyment of winderemere will not be effected too much. The media have been guilty of portraying story's of doom and gloom for the water sports industry and predictions that Bowness will become a ghost town, this could not be further from the truth. The situation is this, lots boats remain on the lake including cruisers from 24' to 50+' lots of smaller sports cuddys etc , lots of sailing boats, canoes, rowing boats, fishing boats, inflatables and even one jet ski (apparently) There is even wake boarding, wake surfing and god knows what else still going on.

The point is this. The lake usage and the people on it will evolve in time. The speed limit should never have been put into place but the reality is that it seems that it is here to stay so we need to stick with it and not all make a mass exodus.

Ian

 

[CaptainThames]

Reference the 96% being used by everyone else - If skiers use only 4% of the lake then why could 4% not be designated for high speed water sports? This approach is taken in Holland and other areas in Europe on many of the lakes, with designated water skiing areas with speed limits on the rest. Everyone is catered for and all are happy. How come the UK has to go to extremes and fails to provide arrangements where all boaters can get along together - shouldn't that be the aim? RYA? Another example of over regulation driven by prejudice.
Interested to know if this option or something similar was considered and why not taken up.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
Reference the 96% being used by everyone else - If skiers use only 4% of the lake then why could 4% not be designated for high speed water sports?

[/ QUOTE ]
No. The figure they were giving was a percentage of the whole available area of the National Park. If that was all the water or indeed the whole landmass, I don't know. I guess the 4% figure only included the parts of Windermere that weren't already governed by the 6mph limit as a percentage of the whole Park.
Of course the MOBO pilots only had in reality about 5 miles in the South Basin and 4 miles in the North Basin to use at full chat, the rest being 6mph, including the whole of the Bowness Bay and Belle Isle area in the middle.
I can't see how segregating would have worked. How would it be policed? Would yachts, row boats, canoes, etc be prohibited from the MOBO areas? Some jetskiers couldn't manage to slow down in the 6 mph areas, what chance would there be of them sticking to a segregated area where their friends and audience couldn't see them?
It's a shame. Whatever the Park Authority chose to do would have been criticised. This isn't perhaps the best alternative, but it's what we have got.

 

[Roy]

[ QUOTE ]
Loch Lomond is a stop-gap as that is going to be next.
If you want to try more sedate boating, Windermere is still here. It's beautiful and has more to do and see and wonderful food to eat than you can find crammed into any other corner of the UK.
But if you're looking for inland power-boating in spectacular surroundings, (without disrespect to the Broads) I'm afraid it's gone and it won't return.

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif A very sweeping and totally wrong statement as regards Loch Lomond, both in terms of it being in any way secondary to anywhere inland in terms of beauty and particularly your claim that it will 'be next' .... I assume to having power boating banned!?? LL has an ancient right of navigation in place by parliament which will never be removed, although some restriction on jet bikes and seaplanes is being examined. Speeding is monitored and heftly fines are issued after written warnings and instantly in some cases. W/mere boaters are very welcome to come and stay without fear of future sanctions.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
A very sweeping and totally wrong statement as regards Loch Lomond, both in terms of it being in any way secondary to anywhere inland in terms of beauty and particularly your claim that it will 'be next' .... I assume to having power boating banned!??

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry Roy. I was only going on what I have already read about the prospects for the future of the Loch.
You also have some inaccuracies in your post.
Windermere of course has a Right of Navigation which is the main reason (OK, not main, but one they always give) the LDNPA chose to impose a speed limit. That is an entirely plausible scenario in your area, which you need to address to avoid a similar outcome there. Remember the LDNPA had promised power-boating on the lake in perpetuity, until they changed their mind, of course.
They did not ban speedboats They just can't speed.
However, I still reserve the right to prefer The Lake District as a beautiful place. ".......Eye of the beholder", and all that.

 

[Roy]

Hi Phil

Yes, the lakes are indeed a unique and pleasant land for sure. Sorry. On the right of navigation issue on LL. It is a right granted by James 1st and will stand and the councils and then the LLAssociation have a speed limit - 60mph which will be reduced to around a more reasonable 30 ish in due course and it looks like jetbikes will be controlled or banned on reasons of unsafe useage and noise pollution. Time will tell of course. Best regards and good fortune in your business and boating for the future. Roy

 

[the_wanderer]

Why don't these arrogant, inconsiderate, loud people go and get themselves a life instead of complaining about their ruining of other people's pleasure? We spent a few weekends camping and walking around Windermere a few years ago, ruined by this lot with their noise. The same goes for the skiers and even worse, the wet bikers around our coasts. GET A LIFE YOU SAD PEOPLE.

 

[sjw]

Us loud and inconsiderate people are sometimes extremly qualified to participate in our chosen hobbies to help promote water skiing as a sport for children,the disabled in a professional manner please do not judge us all by your own immature manner.

 

[[2068]]

Whatever it is you like to do at the weekend, I hope that nobody bans it and then makes the generalisation that all people who enjoy your chosen activity are "sad" and need to "get a life".

I find it hard to believe that the creation of a ski-zone on Windermere would have ruined the place for everyone else. I find it much easier to believe that your intolerant attitude is out of step with the democracy in which we currently live. Have you ever considered moving to North Korea, or possibly applying for presidency of the LDNPA ?

 

[itsonlymoney]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/4367999.stm

 

[ColinW]

That BBC article says it all really. I love the quote from a waterskiier who says,

"The most fantastic thing in the world is to be out on the lake first thing when it's quiet, having a ski, then handing it back to the other users."

So even the waterskiiers themselves say that the lake is a better place when it's quiet! Now, fortunately, we will no longer have to wait for them to "hand it back", because we can carry on enjoying the peace and quiet all morning without listening to their howling two-strokes and being thrown around by their wash.
I also note that Mr Kemp of the WAF was found guilty of speeding on Coniston. Waterskiiers are a very responsible group aren't they?

 

[sjw]

So ovbiously motor cruisers,ferrys ,yachts under power? at 10mph produce less wash than a ski boat at 30mph i think not ,even ski boats produce a large wash at 10mph,while not condoning breaking the law ,i belive sports boats were not even allowed on coniston until this ban came in now they are free to go at 10mph.

 

[Lakesailor]

Wash depends on the hull design. The large steamers, particularly Tern make virtually no wash, whilst the awful Dutch built ferries, which steam closer to shore and moorings make a huge wash. Their sterns are just chopped off.
Ski boats and deep vee boats are designed to ride on the plane and are very inefficient off the plane. They and the large planing cruisers don't HAVE to motor just below the stepping up speed. They could go at 7 or 8 knots and create much reduced wash.
The rules of navigation do (and always have) require you not to make excessive wash.