Posted by Robert Howes on September 06, 1999 at 16:32:17 from 62.137.36.168 via proxy webcacheH04a.cache.pol.co.uk:
In Reply to: Re: 'It's a shark!' - again posted by Samantha Downs on September 06, 1999 at 10:06:50:
The trouble is that jetskis don't have propellers. If they did then you could try AR's suugestion to the Admirality on the defense of small naval craft, as found in 'Nancy Blackett' by Roger Wardale:
"You are probably aware of the simple method of retaliation used by yachtsmen against the drivers of speed-boats who amuse themselves by rushing round and round normally quiet anchorages to the great discomfort of everybody else. The sailor who can stand this frightfullness no longer gets out his [or her, to be P.C.]
sailing dinghy and arms himself with a ball of string. He then goes for a sail across the harbour, making fast one end of the string and unostentatiously overboard. The ball unrolls, and the sailoe is then towing an immense length of invisable string. The scoundrel in the speed-boat continues cavorting, rushing about at great speed, and
probably showing off by cutting circles round the sailing dinghy. But not for long. The sailor , watching his end of the string (arranged to slip at any serious pull) observes it disappear. Two seconds later the speed-boat changes its tune, and is presently silent, when its horrid owner may be seen anxiously signalling for a tow. While the sailor, looking the other way, returns to his ship to enjot the peace of the
harbour. The speed-boat fiend may lose his propeller, and if not will spend the next day or two out of action, and hard at work with a pocket knife.
Very good. Why not apply the same cheap and effective method to aerial attack?
It is obviously impossible to fit small small ships with private ballon barages. But why not let them fly kites?"
The admirality did not take up his suugestion, but the reason I typed all that out is I thought the first bit might be useful against waterskiers (or at least the boats that pull them).
Unfornunatly it will not work for jetskis, but here is a short tale about why not all jetskiers are so bad.
Several years ago, my Dad, his friend Richard, (Both inexperienced sailors) and my brother (a very inexperienced sailor) were sailing Richard's ancient GP14 on Southampton Water. He had recenly bought the boat for £150, and it needed new bouyancy bags, amongst many other improvements. However, he had not replaced the bouyancy bags, as they still held air (for about half an hour) and he wanted to go sailing as quickily as possible. They set off, and all was fine until (with my brother at the helm) they capsized. The boat was quickly righted, but due to the lack of bouyancy, was floating level with the water, so they had no hope of bailing. The water was cold, and stuipidly, all three were wearing only shorts and T-shirts (and bouyancy aids thankfully), so they were in the water next to the boat, and freezing.
Then along came some jetskiers, who had been watching from the shore. One of them took my brother (who was now blue with cold) back to shore, and another attached the boats painter to his jetski, and towed the boat ashore. For this, we must be thankful to some considerate jetskiers.
The is also a morale here about sailing a seawothy boat, wearing the right protection, and knowing what you are doing. If it hadn't been for those jetskiers the situation could have been very much worse. Unfortunatly this incident managed to put my friend (who was standing next to me on shore at the time) off sailing, because we were due to go out in the boat with my Dad and Richard after my brother had had a go.