It is odd for me to say it, being as I come from the oily classes, and having always had a fascination for all things mechanical, but I am coming to dislike the marine internal combustion engine intensely. Not because of it's contribution to our demise via a disappearing ozone layer, but simply because it's misuse is now, it seems to me, making some of our valuable coastal and estuarial waters unpleasant for a great many people. It is becoming a case of the few ruining the place for the majority, not just sailing/boating folk, but walkers and those who just want to sit about in a nice place.

I sail around in Carrick Roads , Falmouth Bay and the Helford river, and this summer the area, like many others, has been plagued by high powered (and thus noisy) boats towing rubber rings in ever decreasing circles. Many of these boats are driven as if they were on tarmac. I have had boats cut across my bows, demolish my fishing lines and seen them deliberately set up cross-wakes which would have been dangerous to any small dinghy. Add to this water skiers and the appallingly noisy jet-ski (or Personalised Water Craft as they known as by the RYA), and anyone who wanted to enjoy the environment they are sailing or walking in might as well go home.

Now this is not just a rant by a middle aged f…… who thinks adrenaline is a cough remedy. I see the attraction in all of the above activities, but the fun is in the action, and that doesn't need to be in places where other conflicting activities take place by many more people, there could be much stricter zoning , with offshore power boats going offshore ( - what with all those waves?) , strict noise controls and more speed limits. Why am I writing this? Well, I want all those people who think like me, to write to the RYA if they are a member, get their sailing club to contact the RYA and Harbour boards etc. and write to the sailing press if you can. Although the arguments about power and sail have gone on a long time, easy access, and the affordability of power, makes it essential that we act to try to improve the situation in increasingly crowded waters.

Any of you who have sailed in the Lake District will be aware of the low impact of power on Ullswater or Coniston due to the speed limit; compared to Windermere (I know changes are afoot). I have contacted the RYA, and they are taking the line that there is room for everyone if the power boat users and jet-ski riders are trained.-(look there's a low flying pig!) This is a noble aim, but the argument is a different one from simply safety- that of environmental impact. Some activities are mutually exclusive. Can you imagine the outcry if trail bikes were allowed all over Dartmoor or Helvellyn!

We live in a noisy world where there need to be places to get away, boats always provided this. To safeguard the rights of all users of the coasts and creeks, We need to develop a campaign now, aimed at controlling the environmental impact of power-boats, I would hope through the RYA, but if not, without them,-perhaps there are too many vested interests. Perhaps at the next DCA A.G.M. some form of contact could be agreed - I will happily submit a motion for discussion.

Meanwhile let's act locally - any suggestions not requiring firearms gratefully received.