BOATS TOWING SKIERS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 12

BOATS TOWING SKIERS

Regulations “Not Clear-Cut"

The existing regulations governing the operation of motor-boats towing skiers within certain limits of the beaches were by no means clear-cut and harbour boards could only exercise their power through the courts, the secretary-manager of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr A. L. Burk) said yesterday. He was replying to a correspondent, “Safety First,” who had drawn attention to water ski-ing at Charteris Bay. The correspondent said that the beaches normally had safe bathing for adults and children but were being made a bedlam of noise caused by outboard motors. In most cases the boats were towing water skiers. “While these operate, bathing is restricted as they tear up and down, sometimes only a few feet from the shore,” the correspondent said. “During the last weekend there have been several near misses.”

“The amendments to the general harbour motor-launch by-laws clearly say that power-boats must not travel faster than five miles an hour within 200 yards of the water edge, and all exit lanes are to be suitably marked with buoys to ensure general safety. “I consider that it is up to the Lyttelton Harbour Board to see that the regulations are carried out before we have another accident and possibly loss of life,” the correspondent said. Mr Burk said that urgent representations had been made through

the Harbours’ Association of New Zealand to have powers made more embracing and it was anticipated that as a result of an accident when a launch towing a skier struck a boy in the water at Eastern Beach, Auckland, last week, new regulations would be issued at an early date.