Aggressive boater

ON LEAVING Blackwater Meadow Marina near Ellesmere this morning, we proceeded towards Llangollen. However it was the Ellesmere Boating Weekend, so it was very busy, writes Peter Ponting.

On approaching the first bridge near the Ellesmere Arm, a boat continued to head towards us, with his hand held high indicating for us to stop.

No bow thruster

As I was in the bridge channel, I stopped, but he continued towards us. He then stopped. His partner crossed a hire boat moored on the side and informed us that they had a 70' narrowboat with no bow thruster. I informed her that we had a 58' narrowboat, also with no bow thruster.

The owner of Koso, then using a pole on the hire boat, informed me that we could pass him. Looking at the space between the boats it was apparent that we would not be able to pass.

Not risk damage

I told him that I would not risk damaging three boats, and that he should reverse, as I had right of way. Now being a quarter of the way through the bridge.

At this stage he started to become aggressive.

A hire boat behind us said they were moving, so to avoid a conflict, I reversed our boat out of the bridge, onto the mooring.

Aggressive

As he passed he told me that I was an aggressive B****R. To which I replied, "If you are incapable of reversing a boat, you shouldn't have one, and read the boaters manual."

The abuse that followed clearly shows that boating is no longer a pleasure, when idiots like that are allowed on them.