Henleys Festival is booming...or maybe not!

[Ianfs]

I suspect Martin and James know a bit about this, but it'll be a shame if they do scrap the booms.

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=154582

[mlines]

Fortunately there is more recent news than that article

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=190455

They are keeping the booms and putting a restriction on the number of parallel moored boats.

This is a burst of common sense as stationary boats do not present a problem, its the moving ones that were the issue. If they had removed the booms then everyone would have been cruising and it would have been dangerous in my opinion.

I think they should charge for the booms. The complaint is that the Regatta committee pay for them for the Regatta and have to pay for maintenance and damages. The maintenance and damage occurs during the Festival, who's committee doesn't pay for them. I think the Festival committee should pay as it adds to the atmosphere of their festival (its a sight unique in the UK) and perhaps charge mooring at a few pounds per boat.

The new limit of two boats parallel parked will still create an issue. It is understandable for some of the giant Gin palaces but small sportsboats can happily moor up 6 boats in the same space as the larger floating bungalows. I am expecting the EA will be forced to turn a blind eye to it in the end in the pursuit of safety and then the same row will be in the papers next year!

On another note, we will be challenged again for the fastest boat on the river......

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=196914

They got special permission to break the speed limit last year, until the engine caught fire on the start line. One excuse I heard was it was idling too long waiting for the course to be clear of birds. I suggest they employ us to do a bird clearing run

[Ianfs]

As I recall when I worked in Henley back in '94 some of the committee for the Regatta and Festival were the same, which is probably why the booms where overlooked. I dare say the new Festival committee has ignored their use for cost reasons, letting someone else pay the repair bills.

One excuse I heard was it was idling too long waiting for the course to be clear of birds. I suggest they employ us to do a bird clearing run

Ha ha, great idea, why don't you suggest it to the organisers, it would be very novel for them with an announcement that you are the second fastest boat on the river?

Trouble is the Bluebird only the K3, 130mph and your boat is not far behind that!

It's quite amazing that only early on in the last century, say 1920, your boat would have the World Speed Record and that there are boats today which are kind of standard production boats which are faster that Bluebird K3.

[mlines]

It's the same with cars, the racing Bentley that set the Brooklands speed record of 137mph would have been overtaken by us when we took a Range Rover Sport to 155Mph (with two passengers who could have been watching TV and DVDs in the back at the same time) The Range Rover didn't even seem fast until we passed 135mph (Gaydon test track, not public roads)

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[mlines]

And I am sure Ianh has been much faster in cars (and boats)

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[ian h]

And I am sure Ianh has been much faster in cars (and boats)

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Can not possibly comment on either of those

[Ianfs]

And I am sure Ianh has been much faster in cars (and boats)

Really, oh do tell.