BOATOWNERS are being warned about the dangers of drink-driving at sea. And doing so could become illegal in future.

Harbour master Captain Peter Gill said there was increasing evidence this summer of a rise in boaters taking to sea between Guernsey and Herm after having drunk alcohol to excess.

‘Drinking and driving boats do not mix – it’s irresponsible. Drinking impairs judgement and all boats are ‘potentially’ lethal,’ he said.

‘There are thousands of boats out there and you need only one or two to be foolish and it gives everyone a bad name. Everyone is entitled to be out there enjoying themselves.’

He added that people must not put themselves, their passengers or other boats at risk.

Legislation to combat drink-driving at sea is being considered in draft form in the UK.

‘We will be looking at what is in force elsewhere. It’s a difficult area and I’m sure the States of Guernsey will look at it. It would be my job to back any decision that the States make,’ said Capt. Gill.

‘People can see the stupidity ‘of drink-driving’ on the roads and I don’t see why they should not be able to make the same link to the issue with driving a boat.

‘The difficulty is finding appropriate legislation that can be properly implemented. There are more people out there taking a risk and the more people on the sea means we will have more incidents.’

Aside from not drinking, his advice to all boatowners is to be sensible when taking to sea and to ensure they:

n wear a lifejacket;

n check the engine and fuel;

n tell somebody where they are and will be going;

n carry some means of calling for help; and

n check the weather and tides.

‘Do these and you have a good chance of coming home in one piece.’

Jersey’s search and rescue authorities were taken to the end of their capabilities dealing with incidents at the weekend.

‘Saving a life at sea is an expensive game and we always respond in a responsible fashion. It costs about £5,800 to fire up the engine on the lifeboat to go out on a shout.’

There have already been 26 lifeboat call-outs in 2007, compared to that number during the whole of last year.

‘We are only just getting into the summer season – it’s worrying.

‘We are resource-constrained and we don’t have unlimited numbers of people to go out day and night.’