What really intrigues me about a regulatory future is, who's benefit is it for?

Driving a car is regulated for the good of the general public, pedestrian, land owner, car driver, motorcyclist, cyclist etc.etc. Oh, and the Exchequer!. A car driver can though effect many others en-route.

Boating is pretty soliatary - there aren't many pedestrians out there, so self- regulation, or better no regulation BUT guidance, training and a better image instead is whats needed. (The Exchequer gets his bit already from VAT!)

Both the RNLI and the RYA have the SAME view I think - they just need to co-ordinate their ideas more - it's easier for the RNLI, whom I fully support, because who's going to ciritcise the comments of life savers, but they don't help when their own statistics don't bother to relate occurances of incidents to the size of local boat parc or similar - with a factual, but whole picture angle! (PR)
How many times have you been appalled at the carnage of a plane crash only to be told in the same day that flying is safer than going by car - thats PR!