Dear Sir,

On Wednesday, March 23, the weather was beautiful. Several tourists and a few Bermudians took advantage of the warm, sunny day to sunbathe and swim at Shelly Bay Beach.

Some of the visitors were families with small children. Amid their relaxation, however, a gentleman who drives a blue van decided that he would entertain himself by driving, at a high speed, his remote-controlled, miniature, double-hulled motorised speedboat among the swimmers and closely parallel to the beach.

This gentleman did not feel that, not only did this “toy” create a disturbance — as it was quite loud — but that it also posed a serious safety hazard to all of those on the beach. After being approached and told that it was not a suitable place for such an activity, he protested that he was within his rights, as this was a public beach and he was very much in control of his “toy”.

It was suggested that it would be as much for his own protection as for the protection of persons on the beach that this gentleman find an alternate place in the future to indulge in his sport.

A dispute that was based mostly on safety and wellbeing at Shelly Bay Beach has recently been settled. So it was with dismay that it was observed that this unpredicted event, which could be considered unfair and irresponsible and which could bring serious harm, especially to children at the beach, was taking place.

At the end of the last summer season, there was a gentleman who was operating a remote-controlled drone-like aircraft over the swimming area. This, also, created a noise and was close enough to impinge on the privacy of swimmers and sunbathers. It is to be hoped that that person has found a more appropriate place for his activity.

On Wednesday a family of tourists, whose taxi driver had recommended Shelly Bay Beach as a safe, relaxing family beach, voiced thankfulness when the speedboat activity ceased, as they said that the activity had caused some nervousness and consternation.

It is to be hoped that both of these gentlemen, plus any others who may think of Shelly Bay Beach as an appropriate place for such activities, will find other spaces that are not populated and where they can entertain themselves without violating the safety, privacy or the relaxation of our visitors and locals.

C GRIFFIN