Steve wrote in message
news
"Ric" , wrote:


"Steve" wrote in message
You sound like a perfect example of why licences are sensibly
required by
these countries. Every year in the Med people are killed by
holidaymakers
who hire speedboats with either false qualifications, or hire
them from
dodgy cowboys who don't check.

It's only water.

Water, with people swimming in it

Other people driving around on it

All of whom could be damaged by your activities, even though you
may know all your right of way rules and be an incredibly
responsible driver

But they won't be covered by your boat's insurance, in most
countries, if you don't have a valid certificate of competence

Which means you'll be liable (as well as the boat hirer) and (in
many countries, such as Greece) you'll be detained until you put
a deposit into court big enough to cover any possible claims.

But perhaps you're rich enough (and have enough time) to cover
that risk yourself?

These are legal reasons and financial incentives, introduced for
the practical reason that the death and injury rates in
Mediterranean Greece and Spain involving higher speed vessels
(over 15 kts or so) are seen as excessive and a threat to
tourism. How effective these systems are at reducing accident
rates is not yet clear, but at least they ensure that those with
(valid) certificates are aware of the risk of collision and the
theory of how to avoid it.
--
JimB
Yacht Rapaz, sadly for sale:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jim.bae...cification.htm
jim(dot)baerselman(at)ntlworld(dot)com