A resident of La Herradura writes in to complain about the noise and disturbance caused by people using jet skis.
Dear Ed
Another beautiful day in La Herradura ruined by the constant drone of jet skis.
I’ve just counted ten of the infernal machines. Ten people causing a nuisance for thousands!!
Gerald Simpson
It’s noise that’s the problem with jetskis, not safety. Now obviously they should all be beached when I, personally, am trying to get to sleep (I’m thinking of some sort of engine disabler linked to my alarm clock via GPRS); but apart from that they should be allowed to have some fun.
Not sure how it works elsewhere; but in Velilla there is one (1) channel (marked with buoys) for jetskis to get out past the swimming area marker buoys and while you’re using that channel you are extremely encouraged to go slow. I’m not a jetskiier; but have had a go on the rentals a couple of times because it’s tremendous fun. It’s basically walking pace until you’re out past the buoys and that applies to both renters and owners…not that there’s any actual laws; but it’s heavily implied that any irresponsibility within the swimming area would result in a practical application of community self-policing. The point being that jetskis in this neck of the woods are permitted to go fast only after they get quite a way offshore past the swimming area buoys. I’ve not heard of any jetski accidents in Velilla, despite thousands of people on Sunday morning trying to summon a rock through the force of sheer willpower. Compare that with other hobbies like the number of parasailers who wrap themselves round buildings and trees every year.
So it’s noise that is the main problem; and that might be sort of self-correcting because electric jetskis are now a thing; albeit a lot more expensive right now. If there’s some legislating against the noise of petrol ones, however, that would increase demand for electric which will in turn bring down the price. Same sort of thing as is happening with cars, but the process is a slow one.
Then there’s the wildlife. That is also mostly noise related, but there are leaked hydrocarbons to deal with too. That can also be solved with electric vehicles; but with the problem that if you do completely obliterate the vehicle into a rock some of the stuff in batteries is pretty nasty.
You may wonder why I’m arguing semi-sympathetically for the noisy bastards…I do have an ulterior motive. If I ever win the lottery I **AM** going to buy an electric surfboard and none of you buggers can stop me. Starting petitions and making it illegal just means that I’d need a bigger and faster one because then there’d be police to evade too (and they use diesel in those big throbby boats and think how bad that would be for the environment). Yes, I’d be leaving a wake of lightly-stunned fish with PTSD behind me; but what is the point of being the planet’s No.1 apex predator if you can’t zip through delicate ecosystems irresponsibly fast in as dangerous a fashion as is possible?
I hate the wretched machines and given their depressing noise pollution why don’t the authorities allocate a segment of coastline, where they can do their thing, and ban them in all other locations?
Yesterday (Sunday) was horrible disturbed with an invading and non-stopable yet skiing inferno along our beach side of La Herradura- especially the Pena Parda area.
No one can feel safe and am just awaiting an accident with no point of return. Law has to step in and ensure the safety of families before it will be too late after a lethal accident.
Not sure the legitimacy of amigosdelmar. I don’t do fb or social media stuff. not sure I did Grainne thing correctly, but if anyone wants to do a physical paper petition in LAH, I am game. Martin knows how to contact me.
yes its horrible.
shouldnt the national siesta rule come into play?
Cerro Gordo is a protected park and folks are trying to improve Punta de la Mona not to mention scaring the dolphins away, disturbing wildlife habitats and what about air pollution but the authorities dont seem to care.
Last year Guardia did stop and check id’s maybe someone needs to give them a call again
Amigos del Mar Costa Tropical has launched an online petition calling on La Herradura – Almuñécar municipality to prohibit jetskis at municipally-owned boat ramps along the coast. Jetskis do not belong on the municipality’s Blue Flag beaches; it only takes a few of them to disturb thousands of people in surrounding communities, on the water, on the beaches, as well as marine life. The town hall does not allow motorcycles to race up and down the beaches, why give jetskis access to race up and down on the water? To find out more and to sign the petition go to http://www.amigosdelmar.info