Lymington River Gets Blue Flashing Light Fever

[hard1]

Just a quick note to all Lymington visitors. The normally fairly relaxed haven of Lymington has got itself a new Harbour Master following Alan Costner's retirement (sorely missed already mate) and the aforementioned official has now got himself a RIB with a MK IX B.F.L. which was very active providing a Cowes-like display in the River during the post Fireworks period last Friday.

Speeders in the River is what he's after, and not forgetting that the 6 knots limit starts at Jack-in-the-Basket (nearly in Yarmouth) and I understand that he has also got a new broom and is using it robustly.

Don't forget to salute him properly in the manner that his exalted position deserves, and for goodness sake don't speed. (Make sure you look carefully behind the moored yachts in the River and you might find him lurking there) Also, don't try explaining that a displacement RIB at six knots will damage the mudflats 10 times quicker than a planing one at 16. The speed limit is there to stop the erosion of the precious mudflats and it's damned well going to get enforced so there! He has heard this argument many times before and he's not at all impressed with it. We are talking fines & costs potentially in £000's which ain't funny.

Happy Ribbing...

[PeterR]

This is a subject that interests me and know very little about.I totaly agree with keeping within the speed limits that are there for a reason but fail to understand or know how they are enforced with what seems little proof or substancial evidence unlike a road speeding affence.Can anyone help with this

[BogMonster]

Keel haul the blighter and cool him down a bit

Thankfully the harbour master here doesn't have a boat or a speed gun. Where I launch from, there are a number of yachts moored so I always slow down to 6-7kt but watching the effect of the wake it does look very much like displacement speeds bounce things around much more than a planing wake which is just froth. I've been tempted to belt through them at 25kt and see what happens but I haven't tried it yet....

[Richard B]

When going past pontoon moorings I slow down to 5kts because at that speed as our RIB produces half the wash that it does at 6kts. I try to pass rowers who are going the opposite direction at 4kts as we produce almost zero wash at that speed.

[Mugshot]

Agreed Hard, near me there is a no planing zone rather than a speed limit again to protect the local flora and fauna, which means I have to crawl along creating a far bigger wake than necessary, but the dirty great dive and fishing charter boat that moors up there can go flat out creating a wake you could surf on , makes no sense to me

[Hightower]

Speed limits aren't just in place because of Mudflats and wildlife, it's there to stop idiots from causing too much damage to themselfs and innocent others.

I think that 10 knotts is a better speed providing you're curtious with your wake.

Cowes Harbour Master caught me making too bigga wake, blue flashing lights and lots of shouting......I was looking for this guy to appear on the pontoons by the chain ferry. When he did appear this guy indicated where he wanted me to dock and as I rounded the pontoon I was met head on by this "S£^$ty" Harbour Master once again, comming off his mooring. I stuck her into reverse and outboard stalled . I leant down to switch Ignition back on and key had fallen out ....By the time I'd pulled the key up and inserted it into the Ignition and started the outboard, I looked up just as Kohaku bounced off the side of the Harbour Masters Launch (very gently) . I just remember this guy nodding his head side to side and tutting.

Ha the good old days .

[Limey Linda]

I agree with hightower. There are sufficient unskilled boaters out there to make speed limits a neccesity.

Talking about the good old days. We were invited out for the day on a 65foot Swan Ketch to go out and meet the QE2 on her return from the Falklands. After a great day sailing with a crew of 12 that had just completed the Whitbread, 3 weeks previous in the same boat. ( "Zargo" S. African entry) my good friend Dave the skipper took us back up the Hamble to Moodys under just a spinnaker. The H. master was having a hissy fit running up and down in his rubber ducky. At that time there was no rule against it although I would not reccomend anyone trying it. Dave dropped that 65 footer into it's berth at Moodys and never used the engine once. Was I impressed!!!!!

[Biggles]

I believe a lot of other (Non RIB users) are jealous. I once had a Yacht skipper in cowes dancing up and down on his 30 foot plus yacht as my searider passed at the correct speed. He was waving his arms all over the place doing a dambusters impression. What an idiot. I just laughed at him.
I can't believe the number of yacht owners I see taking humbrage at me in my little searider. As I said earlier its just jealousy.

[Limey Linda]

Biggles

Maybe you are missing the point here. You may be at the correct speed, but if someone is producing a wake that inconviences others then that is dis-courtious and poor seamanship There is plenty of room for all providing people use common sense. For example: if the skipper you refered to was under sail in light winds your wake could have spilled his sails thus loosing him way and steerage. I do not think anyone would be jealous of your boat.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

I do not think anyone would be jealous of your boat.

You can't say that, you haven't seen it. For your information Zerstorer is one of the best 4m seariders I've ever seen - very well specced, fitted out nicely and with great attention to detail, and well looked after. I'm jealous of his boat.