Yesterday at Marlow

boatone

boatone

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
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Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
I have posted the following on the TMBA Facebook Group and think it worth quoting here to achieve a wider audience:
Several incident reports yesterday complaining about the restricted navigation at Marlow during a regatta. Please note that this was not the Marlow Town Regatta which takes place in June - this was the Marlow Rowing Club Spring Regatta. To the best of my knowledge I have received no advance warning from the EA about either of these events, nor do they appear on the EA website under River Closures and Restrictions. I will be raising this at the TNUF meeting at the end of June. I am also vigorously pursuing the whole subject of communications with boaters and have made myself somewhat unpopular by doing so !
It is pleasing that some of you have provided detailed information via the TMBA website incident form and I would encourage you all to make use of this facility so that I have chapter and verse available when discussing these matters with Reading.
I know, personally, how frustrating it can be to be herded into a narrow side channel which may not be suitable height, width or depth wise for many cruisers but please don't lose your cool and exacerbate the situation. "Smile and Wave" is good and do remember to take a note of the ID number on any boats that behave badly towards you and communicate this information to me as soon as you can.
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You do not need to be TMBA members to make use of our incident reporting form and all information received is responsibly collated and reported to the EA as appropriate.
 
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One of the poor oiks on a little club motorboat lost a game of chicken with me yesterday. I had nowhere to go, and was quite prepared to mow him down, and possibly reverse over the flotsam, and he realised this before saving himself. He gesticulasted at me, so I returned his hand signalling with the same, and added a few choice words for him to think about.

The inevitable lady rowers who cut in front of me just above the bridge without looking were rather startled to eventually turn around and see how close I got before I had actually politely stopped, before apologising, although one of the ugly munters on the bankside appeared to think it was my fault they didn't see me.

I despair at the total lack of manners, consideration or common sense from the entrants of this illegal parade of foolishness...
 
Was not any better in the Park Moorings - Rowing club banged on all moored boats windows at 0700 and told us all to move. No signs to say no mooring, but rowing club insisted we had to go. We refused and demanded to see Council official with ID who never came. Boat behind us had a 24hour mooring receipt from council but this did not dissuade the rowing club.
The behaviour of the officials was intimidatory and offensive.
 
Had the same a few years ago some to55 pot with a megaphone giving it large to the boats who refused to move for exactly the same reason, no prior notice or signs and not told then we paid our fees in the leisure centre the afternoon before.
 
apollo said:
Was not any better in the Park Moorings - Rowing club banged on all moored boats windows at 0700 and told us all to move. No signs to say no mooring, but rowing club insisted we had to go. We refused and demanded to see Council official with ID who never came. Boat behind us had a 24hour mooring receipt from council but this did not dissuade the rowing club.
The behaviour of the officials was intimidatory and offensive.
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Thats not good did you move, what would have happened if you didn't ?
 
It's disgusting that they did this. I hope they get into trouble for being so inconsiderate to other users. Will we be kept up to date with the outcome of this?
 
those without facebook

Are you the ****ing idiots that were illegally blocking the navigation yesterday!? If so, you had no right to do so, as the EA were not informed, your safety boats were behaving like a troupe of arrogant twats, trying to force the poor boaters off course in the pitiful lane you left, and the usual poor helming of your rowing vessels was obvious by the amount of near misses whenever they came in proximity of other boats which were suffering poor steering due to the slow speeds involved. Seriously, it's about time you people learnt to integrate, show a little respect and perhaps to teach your members some basic health and safety information to prevent this lunacy from happening at your next event. Many complaints have been sent to the EA from the large amount of people I was travelling with. This is not going to stop here, and I advise you to refrain from behaving like you own the river. You don't. Try this again, and I promise you I will anchor in the middle of the river, and I'm not the only one. Just like your illegal annexing, there will be nothing you can do but whinge like I am now, but it will spoil your day too. Your call chaps
 
extract from facebook
The club that thinks it owns the River Thames when it suits them!
Fancy an event!? No problem chaps, fence off all you need, and sod other river users.

Health and safety need not apply, just pull in front of a motor boat and watch them smash their gearboxes up trying to stop...hahaaa!

Oh, and don't ever thank other boats for slowing down, our coaching boats can go as fast as they like as long as the EA aren't looking...

Gentlemen, this is all about to change

Very nice of you to illegally restrict river traffic in the Marlow reach this Monday. Nothing pleases a motor boater paying hundreds of pounds a year to use the river than finding the navigable river restricted to the width of a nats pubic hair. The grinding of propellers on the shallow river bed is music to most motor boaters ears. Overhanging trees are a boaters friend and the crunching of branches against gel coat brings a smile to any skippers face. Please keep up your selfish self centered attitude to other river traffic
 
I too have stuck in my two pence worth. This arrogance has to stop and I'm up for a fight. Marlow Rowing Club are going to regret this big time. If it results in a "boats at anchor" protest during their regatta next year or even outside their rowing club then so be it.
 
Your next port of call is a complaint to the council asking for a refund.

apollo said:
Was not any better in the Park Moorings - Rowing club banged on all moored boats windows at 0700 and told us all to move. No signs to say no mooring, but rowing club insisted we had to go. We refused and demanded to see Council official with ID who never came. Boat behind us had a 24hour mooring receipt from council but this did not dissuade the rowing club.
The behaviour of the officials was intimidatory and offensive.
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jaws said:
I too have stuck in my two pence worth. This arrogance has to stop and I'm up for a fight. Marlow Rowing Club are going to regret this big time. If it results in a "boats at anchor" protest during their regatta next year or even outside their rowing club then so be it.
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The main marlow regatta is in june I think?
 
so you have bought a boat unsuitable for the river you are using it on, appear unable to handle it properly and you wish to blame someone else for the result ...surely not...:)
and as for venting your spleen on a teenage angst blog :)
 
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oldgit said:
so you have bought a boat unsuitable for the river you are using it on, appear unable to handle it properly and you wish to blame someone else for the result ...surely not...:)
and as for venting your spleen on a teenage angst blog :)
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As far as the rowers are concerned anything with a motor is unsuitable with the exception of their coaching boats which can do any speed they like and be operated without any consideration for anybody else......
 
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. ;)

oldgit said:
so you have bought a boat unsuitable for the river you are using it on, appear unable to handle it properly and you wish to blame someone else for the result ...surely not...:)
and as for venting your spleen on a teenage angst blog :)
Click to expand...
 
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