Dear Mr Macdonald,
I learned only recently and through informal sources, that a Loch Awe Safety Company had been set up and a voluntary code of practice drafted with the intention of embodying some or all of the guidelines into Bye-laws.
I was initially dismayed and somewhat put out, that as a member of the LAIA and as a Riparian Owner I had not been consulted on matters affecting governance of the Loch and possible legislation. However, I am now greatly reassured, as I understand that you are trying to ensure all responsible users and relevant parties are indeed consulted before anything is enacted.
If I may introduce myself, I am Mike Cowie and along with my wife Eilidh, am the owner (since 1999) of New York just south of Dalavich. New York was intended to be a weekend and holiday retreat/escape for us and our now adult family but we also operate the two properties as holiday lets when (sadly all too often) we are not availing ourselves of it. We live in Perth.
Despite recently becoming the possessor of a bus pass, I still enjoy, amongst other outdoor activities, the sport of water-skiing (although less frequently now) and of course the prospect of a speed limit on Loch Awe was not something that I welcomed!
I admit to clear self interest here but I know there are others who have skied very responsibly on the loch over the years. In addition, I am always very wary of yet more regulation, I think our lives are impacted by too many things we’re not allowed to do and we cannot and shouldn’t try to protect everyone from every single risk that may come their way or that they voluntarily subject themselves to. Reasonable precautions and recommendations, yes, but if we were to take things to the extreme, we wouldn’t allow anyone out on the water or even to stand close to the edge!
As regards the Loch, we should be accommodating as far as we reasonably can to all interests. As regards speed and safety, I don’t think speed has been an issue in any of the misfortunes that have occurred on the Loch over the years.
The water skiing fraternity are generally very safety conscious operating to British Water Ski Federation safety recommendations almost as second nature. We have well equipped boats, wear buoyancy aids and wet suits or dry suits as a matter of course and as a result can survive in cold water for some time. We will have all the right insurance covers for boat, the skier, passengers and third parties arguably more so than any other loch user. Most of my own water skiing is done on the river at Perth with the Perth Water Ski Club where I am both the Treasurer and Safety Officer.
We operate on the river with the co-operation of the harbourmaster and have adopted sensible safe operating practices particularly in relation to interacting with the seagoing vessels that come and go from the harbour. Our boats all carry a clear boat number issued by the club so there is no anonymity. In fact on the reverse of my boat number board I have NY which I display when I operate on Loch Awe so I can be identified if necessary.
Water skiing requires speeds of between around 25 to 35 mph, boats at this speed are planing and produce minimal wash particularly in comparison to a displacement boat, engines comply with all sorts of environmental standards and in the scheme of things are not noisy – do not confuse the noise impact with that of jet skis.
Loch Awe is a large loch, able to accommodate all current users with no conflict. I really see no case for a speed limit currently and accordingly I would be a vigorous campaigner against one. Quite apart from my stated self interest, I am at a loss as to where a justifiable desire for a speed limit has come from.
I am not clear as to whom I should additionally express my views and I am thus copying as many other parties as I am aware of and who my be involved/interested. I should be grateful if this note could be circulated to members of The LAIA, The Loch Awe Safety Company and any other relevent parties who are not already copied above.
I hope we can achieve a sensible and accommodating outcome.
Thanks and regards,
Mike Cowie
123 Glasgow Road
Perth
PH2 0LU
01738-622039
07710-112233
