Hotline crew were out of control at Sunday's event.

Niel Jones, who was on another raft, claims the crew maliciously attacked other rafts putting in danger nearby children.

In a letter to The Royal Gazette , he said: "Many of the rafts were constructed with sufficiently heavy pieces of wood and other materials that had those pieces fallen on the head of a child might have resulted in unconsciousness and possibly drowning.

"Add to this the fact that those materials were attached with sharp, rusty nails.'' Mr. Jones claimed he was injured by one of the nails and he hit out at the "bellicose, testosterone-fuelled'' gang he blamed for trying to destroy other raft through brute strength.

His letter said: "I limp around today, my foot red and swollen, having stepped on a nail exposed by their actions.'' However organiser David Panchaud said he was amazed by the claims and had not had a single complaint.

He said: "Normally if there's a problem people go the organiser. We have a first aid point and the only one needing treatment was a child hurt by a barnacle.

"It's possible somebody can get hurt if someone is skylarking around but that's par for the course and we certainly don't encourage it.'' Other participants were equally surprised by Mr. Jones's claims.

Paul Maccoy, of the non-winning boat the White Heron GP2, said: "I have every sympathy for the chap, it's an unfortunate accident in a fun day.'' Another entrant added: "I didn't see anything bad. Boats always get trashed at the end of the race. It's crazy to make such a stink over this.''