Yesterday at Marlow

jaws said:
I await a demonstration of your ability to pass a boat in a channel 6meters wide with overhanging trees, restricted depth and high winds. They must be a special breed on the mudway. ;)
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As do I...Nothing wrong with the types of boat that were trying to navigate, the issue was that the idiots organising the event left a navigation channel that was totally unsuitable for its purpose.

I've always wondered, why, when the EA only try to keep the middle 1/3 of the river suitable for navigation, rowing clubs are allowed to force licence paying boaters into the outer 1/4 or 1/3 (or in this case 1/10 !!)which by EA's own definition may be unsuitable for navigation???
 
DogsBody said:
I've always wondered, why, when the EA only try to keep the middle 1/3 of the river suitable for navigation, rowing clubs are allowed to force licence paying boaters into the outer 1/4 or 1/3 (or in this case 1/10 !!)which by EA's own definition may be unsuitable for navigation???
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I totally agree, if this is the bit we are paying for, why cannot it be left for us to use?
The skiffs do not need headroom and do not need depth, so either side would be fine for them.
 
DogsBody said:
I've always wondered, why, when the EA only try to keep the middle 1/3 of the river suitable for navigation, rowing clubs are allowed to force licence paying boaters into the outer 1/4 or 1/3 (or in this case 1/10 !!)which by EA's own definition may be unsuitable for navigation???
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I have asked exactly that question at several EA meetings recently and have so far failed to get an answer other than they expect river users to get along with each other.

For those advocating disrupting an event be aware of the by laws :
And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws, 1993 that:
The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.
The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000
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boatone said:
I have asked exactly that question at several EA meetings recently and have so far failed to get an answer other than they expect river users to get along with each other.

For those advocating disrupting an event be aware of the by laws :
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So the erant Regatta organisers face a fine of £1000 then!? They have caused a crowd to gather, and endangered people on the River.

That **** works both ways... :encouragement:
 
Given how difficult it is to prosecute unlicensed boats I wouldn't panic too much. Strength in numbers and it would be peaceful action. They wouldn't want the publicity or the expense of trying to prosecute several boats. At worst they could take away your license. Last resort action but worth the risk should it come to it as far as I'm concerned. Also nothing to stop us mooring on the town moorings all along the bank and disrupting the event that way.

boatone said:
I have asked exactly that question at several EA meetings recently and have so far failed to get an answer other than they expect river users to get along with each other.

For those advocating disrupting an event be aware of the by laws :
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For those that didn't pass through this reach of the river on Monday, below is an example of the navigation channel that was marked out for non regatta craft to use whether travelling up or down river, note that it is barely wide enough for one boat let alone two to pass each other, should you be unlucky enough to meet a vessel travelling in the other direction.

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I forced two of the coach's vessels to take to the racing lane to pass me, as there simply was not enough room for their (small) craft to safely pass my vessel.
 
DogsBody said:
For those that didn't pass through this reach of the river on Monday, below is an example of the navigation channel that was marked out for non regatta craft to use whether travelling up or down river, note that it is barely wide enough for one boat let alone two to pass each other, should you be unlucky enough to meet a vessel travelling in the other direction.

View attachment 51435

I forced two of the coach's vessels to take to the racing lane to pass me, as there simply was not enough room for their (small) craft to safely pass my vessel.
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That looks like a typical channel that rowing clubs mark out, but why don't the skippers just man up and take decisions, if its too shallow go outside the markers but not while there is a race passing just wait a bit, ditto if a boat is coming the other way. I have always interpreted these marks a requests to keep out the way, they have been temporarliy placed and not very accurately so are just for guidence. Its not a big issue for a competant skipper surely? Why look for trouble.

However I find the treatment of boaters who have paid for a 24 hour mooring unforgiveable, but I guess that will be a council issue not EA.
 
The map is obviously not to scale as it implies a channel that is 1/4 of the width of the river with room for two boats to pass each other. This is NOT what was provided on the day.

One hire boat deviated over the buoys and was roundly abused even though racing was not taking place at the time.
 
Move into the racing course even if there is no race on and you have to endure shouts through loud hailers telling you to get out of the course. Everyone has been aware of the windy weather this weekend. I defy even the best skipper to be able to maneuver in such a narrow channel without difficulty in such conditions. Shame those that did not witness the chaos are so quick to judge with calls of man up. I consider myself an experienced helmsman and whilst I did not suffer any personal disasters I did find the conditions challenging. Your suggestions of wait until a race is over is both unrealistic and down right dangerous. Flopping about with trees and shallows on one side and marker buoys on the other is crazy talk.

Chris_d said:
That looks like a typical channel that rowing clubs mark out, but why don't the skippers just man up and take decisions, if its too shallow go outside the markers but not while there is a race passing just wait a bit, ditto if a boat is coming the other way. I have always interpreted these marks a requests to keep out the way, they have been temporarliy placed and not very accurately so are just for guidence. Its not a big issue for a competant skipper surely? Why look for trouble.

However I find the treatment of boaters who have paid for a 24 hour mooring unforgiveable, but I guess that will be a council issue not EA.
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jaws said:
I await a demonstration of your ability to pass a boat in a channel 6meters wide with overhanging trees, restricted depth and high winds. They must be a special breed on the mudway. ;)
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Please mummy the wrowers are being horrid and some oik who has no idea just how difficult it is to navigate the highly dangerous Thames with actual other vessels around is suggesting we are a bunch of pond sailors with a desperate need to get a life.:)
This episode in no way whatever at all illustrates what some people have suspected for ages about the denizens of gods own private waterway. :).
 
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Chris_d said:
That looks like a typical channel that rowing clubs mark out, but why don't the skippers just man up and take decisions, if its too shallow go outside the markers but not while there is a race passing just wait a bit, ditto if a boat is coming the other way. I have always interpreted these marks a requests to keep out the way, they have been temporarliy placed and not very accurately so are just for guidence. Its not a big issue for a competant skipper surely? Why look for trouble.

However I find the treatment of boaters who have paid for a 24 hour mooring unforgiveable, but I guess that will be a council issue not EA.
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Let me straighten up a few facts Chris.

A decent skipper would get his boat through the channel, despite the size. Now factor in a fair chunk of wind, Hire boats (BIG Hire boats!) along with the odd Barge, and high speed Coaching craft whizzing around trying to look like Tom Cruise in Top Gun, and it's not so simple.
Cruising downstream on the inside, and faced with a not-so-good skipper coming against you, with nowhere to go as the bank and trees are so close (or overhanging!) and it's not what you expect for a large chunk of River licence and your beloved boat.

Thats why so many people feel this event is the straw that broke the camels back. I'm not going to stop until something is done about it....
 
oldgit said:
Please mummy the wrowers are being horrid and some oik who has no idea just how difficult it is to navigate the highly dangerous Thames with actual other vessels around is suggesting we are a bunch of pond sailors with a desperate need to get a life.:)
This episode in no way whatever at all illustrates what some people have suspected for ages about the denizens of gods own private waterway. :).
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This from a man who recently needed a new prop.....:)
 
All above board. Risk assessments are usually created after the event!!!
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Chris_d said:
Lots of info here

http://www.marlowrowingclub.org.uk/races/msr

Risk assessments about other river users and map of the course.
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Oh dear, well if a Tom Cruise lookalike and few plastic bottles dropped in the river on string make you run aground, hit trees or other boats it must have been serious. Ok I wasn't there but there does seem to be a lot of attitude and predudice on both sides taken into the situation, not much common sense.

ATYC and TMBA need to concentrate on the actual issues, did MRC notify the EA they were having an event and if they did why didn't the EA issue a restictions notice or send a launch.
Did MRC notify the council that they wanted to use the 24hr moorings, and why was there no notices posted warning of the need to leave early or refunds offered.
Why weren't MRC marshalls properly instructed in how to deal with cruisers and allow for the limitations of different boats and skippers.

Need to pick your battles.
 
The Environment Agency Duty Officer told several people on the day that they had NOT been notified and were sending a Patrol Vessel to investigate....

ATYC & TMBA are gathering evidence.

In my humble opinion there are two major issues... the inadequate navigation channel and the issue of the moorings. Probably both issues could have been avoided by better communication from Marlow RC with the EA and the local council.
 
Earlier today I tweeted Environment Agency Southeast:
Thamesmobo@EnvAgencySE Can you confirm if EA were advised re Marlow Rowing Club regatta on Monday and if so why it was not communicated to boaters?
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I have just received following reply:
Hullo @thamesmobo - we advise boaters of events with consented navigation restrictions. We did not consent any restrictions for this event.
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Frankly this is not the reply I was expecting and I will be investigating further.
 
boatone said:
Earlier today I tweeted Environment Agency Southeast:


I have just received following reply:


Frankly this is not the reply I was expecting and I will be investigating further.
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Frankly, it is the response I was expecting, having spoken to EA staff on the day, who admitted to having no knowledge of the event until passing boaters had pointed it out to them and then said an EA launch was on route to investigate. Combined with Jaws' picture showing that the Risk Assessment was written after the event, looks distinctly to me like MRC hadn't followed correct procedures and are now trying to make it look like they did.
 
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