Guys,

See the below letter from the Durban Ski Boat Club to it's members about the new tractor towing procedures at the club. This obviously does not affect anyone who is launching with their own vehicle. I personally think it's definitely time they introduced a better system than they had cause the previous one was a complete f*&k up.

Newsbreak Durban Ski Boat Club
8/5/2012 - Tractor towing procedure

The time has come to put simple rules in place to ensure fair play at launch time in the mornings. Forget about detailing a reason for this, the bottom line is that what we are doing as of now is not working efficiently and fairly.

Here is the plan:
(A) We will apply the “golf ball system” as from this weekend.
( It works like this (1) You get a golf ball and put your boat number on it with an indelible Koki pen. (2) On arrival you put your golf ball in the pipe that is fixed on the opposite wall to the entrance to the club. (3) Your crew stands by the pipe and when your numbered golf ball pops out you get the next tow. If you are not ready when the ball pops out your golf ball goes back in at the top, and you wait your turn again.
(C) If you have not got a golf ball already, Karen who sits at the table and collects visitor fees will sell you one for R5 and she will even write you boat number on the ball-----------all of this for R5---what a bargain.
This applies to all boats, be they shelter stored craft, or towed to the club, and it includes visitors. Your crew must stand in the line.
(D) Tractor drivers have been briefed to only go to the golf ball queue to pick up the next tow.
(E) A copy of this plan is being sent out to clubs that visit us regularly. It is quite possible that some guests will arrive this weekend and not have received the plan. Please look out for visitors and guide them to Karen’s table so she can be of help to them.

I have no doubt that if we all get behind this process things will be much smoother early in the morning.

Thanks for your support.

Commodore

If the tractor drivers stopped their practice of driving your boat & trailer into the water until the trailer is completely submerged then I might start making use of this service again.