What is it with the UK and speed?
Discussion
Today a 10mph speed limit has been imposed on Lake Windermere effectively killing off motorised watersports in the entire Lake District (all the other Lakes already have such limits).
As an keen (ex) water skier this is crap, how many large lakes can now be used for skiing etc?
I know we're surrounded by Sea but that's not really suitable for water skiing, but why is there this nationwide obsession with reducing speed everywhere?
No doubt suitable 'enforcement' will take place
As an keen (ex) water skier this is crap, how many large lakes can now be used for skiing etc?
I know we're surrounded by Sea but that's not really suitable for water skiing, but why is there this nationwide obsession with reducing speed everywhere?
No doubt suitable 'enforcement' will take place
Because we have a bunch of control freaks in power whose only job is to make us all do their bidding.
Its a simple case of "Dont do as i do, do what the hell i TELL YOU".
In other words, they cant stand to see ordinary people doing something that has little consequence for others, but because its "enjoyable" to travel fast they MUST STOP YOU.
Its in their nature to be a bunch of dickless cowards hiding behind legislation and making everyone elses lives a friggin misery, as its the only way for them to feel good about themselves.
I see them for what they are and treat them and their "laws" with the utter contempt they deserve.
F
ck em, and Fck their laws.
Do what you want when you want and to hell with them, theyre *nobodys*.
If enough people do likewise and grow a pair of balls, flouting this spiteful law, theyll have no option but to butt out and Fck off back under the stone they crawled out from.
Regards...
Its a simple case of "Dont do as i do, do what the hell i TELL YOU".
In other words, they cant stand to see ordinary people doing something that has little consequence for others, but because its "enjoyable" to travel fast they MUST STOP YOU.
Its in their nature to be a bunch of dickless cowards hiding behind legislation and making everyone elses lives a friggin misery, as its the only way for them to feel good about themselves.
I see them for what they are and treat them and their "laws" with the utter contempt they deserve.
F
ck em, and Fck their laws. Do what you want when you want and to hell with them, theyre *nobodys*.
If enough people do likewise and grow a pair of balls, flouting this spiteful law, theyll have no option but to butt out and F
ck off back under the stone they crawled out from. Regards...
Get rid of the speed boats and they solve the safety problem ... if there was one.
Maybe what they really solve is the alleged congestion problem that rasied the safety issue in the first place.
It will be interesting to see what effect it has on the local economy.
Will more people visit and spend more money with the speed boats gone? Or did the speed boaters spend a high proportion of the visitor generated revenues anyway - given that a fair disposable income is required to support a boat in the first place.
I guess we will know in a few months.
Maybe what they really solve is the alleged congestion problem that rasied the safety issue in the first place.
It will be interesting to see what effect it has on the local economy.
Will more people visit and spend more money with the speed boats gone? Or did the speed boaters spend a high proportion of the visitor generated revenues anyway - given that a fair disposable income is required to support a boat in the first place.
I guess we will know in a few months.
And guess how they are going to enforce the limit?
Correct.... the good old handheld speed gun - that piece of high tech equipment that will tell you how fast a brick wall is travelling if not used correctly, that they plan on using from a boat!!!!
They had a report on this on 'Country file' on BBC1 the other Sunday morning. They also mentioned how when all the other bits of water in the 'Lakes' had the limit impossed they said Windermere would never get a limit. Then some guy came on and justified the new limit by saying 'times had changed'.
Correct.... the good old handheld speed gun - that piece of high tech equipment that will tell you how fast a brick wall is travelling if not used correctly, that they plan on using from a boat!!!!
They had a report on this on 'Country file' on BBC1 the other Sunday morning. They also mentioned how when all the other bits of water in the 'Lakes' had the limit impossed they said Windermere would never get a limit. Then some guy came on and justified the new limit by saying 'times had changed'.
'A conflict of interests between users' aka Numptyness and hankering for a bygone age??
www.waf.uk.com/news_pages/news4.html
10mph speed limit on Windermere
Published on April 2000 - Motor Boats Monthly
The decision to allow a blanket 10mph speed limit on Lake Windermere is nothing short of a disaster, not only for the boatowners and businesses directly affected, but also for those who never go near the lake.
Britain has a dearth of sheltered inland water on which fast powerboating can be enjoyed with safety. If there is pressure on Windermere, it is largely because every lake surrounding it is already considered sacrosanct. The message that the Government has broadcast loud and clear is that it is completely indifferent to the interests of motorboaters across the country.
Environment Minister Chris Mullin has nailed his colours firmly to the mast in a statement that says "The days of power boats, and other fast motorised vessels, spoiling the enjoyment of people on Lake Windermere are numbered." The absurd inference is that owners of such craft are not people; neither do they themselves draw any enjoyment from the lake. How long before that unacceptable attitude is brought to bear elsewhere?
The Minister suggests that the five-year gap between the announcement and its implementation is to allow "businesses and people who engage in power boating and waterskiing to make alternative arrangements and adjust their expectations accordingly." However, he also states that the reason for conflict between powered craft and 'lower-key' recreational uses had arisen because of a rapid growth in the former sport over the past few years. What is going to happen in other areas when Windermere-based owners are forced to move to them? In all my travels around the UK last year I saw very few spare berths anywhere.
The sensible compromise of introducing zoning for all boat users on Lake Windermere, which was supported by many experienced advocates, has been rejected out of hand, without so much as a trial period. The inevitable conclusion to be drawn is that powered boating has been punished for its stereotypical but completely unrepresentative public image, and not been given a chance.
www.waf.uk.com/news_pages/news4.html
10mph speed limit on Windermere
Published on April 2000 - Motor Boats Monthly
The decision to allow a blanket 10mph speed limit on Lake Windermere is nothing short of a disaster, not only for the boatowners and businesses directly affected, but also for those who never go near the lake.
Britain has a dearth of sheltered inland water on which fast powerboating can be enjoyed with safety. If there is pressure on Windermere, it is largely because every lake surrounding it is already considered sacrosanct. The message that the Government has broadcast loud and clear is that it is completely indifferent to the interests of motorboaters across the country.
Environment Minister Chris Mullin has nailed his colours firmly to the mast in a statement that says "The days of power boats, and other fast motorised vessels, spoiling the enjoyment of people on Lake Windermere are numbered." The absurd inference is that owners of such craft are not people; neither do they themselves draw any enjoyment from the lake. How long before that unacceptable attitude is brought to bear elsewhere?
The Minister suggests that the five-year gap between the announcement and its implementation is to allow "businesses and people who engage in power boating and waterskiing to make alternative arrangements and adjust their expectations accordingly." However, he also states that the reason for conflict between powered craft and 'lower-key' recreational uses had arisen because of a rapid growth in the former sport over the past few years. What is going to happen in other areas when Windermere-based owners are forced to move to them? In all my travels around the UK last year I saw very few spare berths anywhere.
The sensible compromise of introducing zoning for all boat users on Lake Windermere, which was supported by many experienced advocates, has been rejected out of hand, without so much as a trial period. The inevitable conclusion to be drawn is that powered boating has been punished for its stereotypical but completely unrepresentative public image, and not been given a chance.
catso said:
what is it with the UK and speed?
Risk aversion. Lentilists suffer from it. They're congenitally unable to understand that speed, like risk and stress, can be good / useful / fun. Linked to over-active control freakery glands and excessive compulsive legislation disorder. Only known cure - election deprivation dysfunction.
>> Edited by turbobloke on Tuesday 29th March 00:40
To be honest I can see both sides on this, Windemere has become ever more crowded in recent years. I sailed yachts on there for years (though not now). I never had a problem with motor launches/boats as such but sorry Catso, did have a few probs with water skiers. 40ft of rope with a boat on the starboard side and a skier on the port side of your bow just as a gust of wind takes you surging forward and missing the berk by 2 or 3 feet is not funny, but they thought it was. Some of their behaviour was childish and chav like.
The skiers are limited to a section: mmhh! I think just north of "white cross bay" and have their own club and jetty there, so they don't affect the whole lake and don't have free roam. Yachts shouldn't really trouble their activities and they can pass quite close with no problems, but across the bow is stupid.
As for speed! Many of you will know the jetty at Bowness, from there across the lake was our favorite run, healing so much we were standing up. Some people even thought we were sinking
Dinghy racing with a yacht, Great! I'm SURE we broke the 10 mph limit a few times over, easy, every run. Trouble is that there were days that it was too crowded, and that's the trouble.
So, all in all I'm in favour of them having their own lake were "they" have priority. Coniston maybe? It does have the history to go with power boating. Each to his own an' all that.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Tuesday 29th March 01:53
The skiers are limited to a section: mmhh! I think just north of "white cross bay" and have their own club and jetty there, so they don't affect the whole lake and don't have free roam. Yachts shouldn't really trouble their activities and they can pass quite close with no problems, but across the bow is stupid.
As for speed! Many of you will know the jetty at Bowness, from there across the lake was our favorite run, healing so much we were standing up. Some people even thought we were sinking
Dinghy racing with a yacht, Great! I'm SURE we broke the 10 mph limit a few times over, easy, every run. Trouble is that there were days that it was too crowded, and that's the trouble. So, all in all I'm in favour of them having their own lake were "they" have priority. Coniston maybe? It does have the history to go with power boating. Each to his own an' all that.
>> Edited by 8Pack on Tuesday 29th March 01:53
8Pack said:
So, all in all I'm in favour of them having their own lake were "they" have priority. Coniston maybe? It does have the history to go with power boating. Each to his own an' all that.
Reasonable stuff, but our MPs = Muppets in Parliament aren't reasonable. In matters such as this logical argument is out the window, it's ideology all the way with the obvious parallels in road transport policies that have been mentioned already.
Their thinking, even if not explicit, is that mixing everyone up every which way has a social benefit, that it will discourage speed and encourage participation by the meek and mild plus left handed trombonists and three toed purple skinned tetrasexuals of course, and contribute to their socialist utopia where everyone lives and works locally in a slow moving and quiet environment, wears a grey tunic with a red rose on the pocket, depends on BLiar or his ilk for everything, we're all spied on even when we take a wizz, and there's infinite control so no risk or individuality exists anywhere.
Ah yes the Lake district. It will soon be that place that used to have a viable economy supported by power and sail. This of course allowed for the maintenance of footpaths and so on so that the lentilsts could buy their food and petrol at home and go to the lakes for the day, contribute nothing, and still be assured of it having facilities when they next visited. The arrogance of the decision is only matched by the stupidity. Hotels will close, businesses will fold and people will have to move. Just exactly what is the reason for this? Windermere was always the commercial centre of the lakes. It was accepted that the rest of the place must be virtually wilderness, but Windermere was the place to allow coach trips, waterskiing, caravans etc.
Take a good look at this cos the lentil muchers regard this place as theirs. The future is shite the future is green. Explosives are the cure.
Take a good look at this cos the lentil muchers regard this place as theirs. The future is shite the future is green. Explosives are the cure.
There is another watersport they could try - Land Locked Surfing. It involves using a power boat at a lower speed (less than 10 Knots) with extra weight in the back to create a larger wake. This larger wake can effetively be surfed.
It doesn't break the speed limit but will probably piss the lentalists off due to the large wake produced....
No doubt Kitesurfing is also banned on lake windermere, at the moment local councils seam to hate watersports....
It doesn't break the speed limit but will probably piss the lentalists off due to the large wake produced....
No doubt Kitesurfing is also banned on lake windermere, at the moment local councils seam to hate watersports....
hedders said:
Erm, what is the penalty for sailing a dinghy too fast???
Don't tell me, points on your driving license?
£500 fine from what the local news said last night. There's nothing like having the punishment fit the crime
Its another case of "i don't like it therefore it should be banned mentality"
bbc news said:
He says boats being forced to travel below 10mph, which they are not designed to do, will create 3ft or 4ft waves, creating problems for other users.
3ft-4ft waves are ideal for landlocked surfing....
What a great way to protest against the numpties that brought about the ban.....
8Pack said:
So, all in all I'm in favour of them having their own lake were "they" have priority. Coniston maybe? It does have the history to go with power boating. Each to his own an' all that.
Yes but AFAIK all the lakes have similar bans or restrictions.
Seperation on Windermere would work but the lentilists want it all, as the article said the motorised side of watersports is growing faster than the sailing and proper sailing should be done in the Sea anyway - where's the fun in sailing a few miles up a lake just to turn around and come back again?.
The biggest wakes come from the large 'Ferry' type boats and I doubt any sail powered boats that exceed the new speed limits will be 'Scammed' by the 'Lake Safety Partnership'
Also, in my experience, the power-boaters will, more likely, spend more in the local area than the saliors, who IMHO are more likely to sleep on their boat, bring their own food (Lentils?) and spend next to bu66er all, whereas the visiting powerboaters will normally stay in local Hotels etc and eat in the local Restaurants and Pubs - not to mention the amount of extortionately high priced Fuel a Ski-boat will consume in a couple of days skiing and spend with the local boat repair shops (we had to buy a new, expensive, propellor as it hit a submerged rock on the entry to the 'harbour' - the guy in the shop commented on how many props he'd sold due to that rock!)
The situation is quite different in countries like the USA.
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