Why Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club Opposes County Clare Jet Ski Ban
22nd April 2021
“Aquabikes” caught the attention of former
Irish Times journalist Kevin Myers back in 1982.
The
Irishman’s Diary writer was seriously concerned about the pressure windsurfers were putting on the RNLIDun Laoghaire lifeboat at the time.
He had read about these “aquabikes”, made by a Japanese motorbike company, which “skid across the water, steered by handlebars”.
Although there might be “cacophonous” drawbacks, this vehicle might prove useful in rescuing windsurfers, he wrote - if it wasn’t engaged in knocking them down, or worse.
Almost 40 years later, and jetskis have proved their worth in rescue, with trained riders able to access areas of the coastline that may prove too dangerous for coast and cliff rescue crews, lifeboats or helicopters.