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Dear Stan, Much has been written about the concerns facing boat owners at Amwaj, but very little, if anything, about the swimmers.

I have been living at Tala Island for the last 15 months and moved here in preference to Al Marsa, the floating city, specifically because my husband and I wished to be away from the boats - particularly jet skis - and take advantage of the boat-free beach facilities which Tala promised.

We took care before we bought here to check that this would definitely be the case. Imagine our disappointment when, after a few months of pleasant swimming and enjoyment of the sea, the whole interior lagoon became invaded by boats towing water-skiers or rubber dinghies - the latter full of children and travelling at dangerously high speeds.

It was indeed a miracle that no one was killed. There was no option but to give up swimming - the risk of being hit by a random jet ski in particular being too much of a possibility.

Instead, we were driven to spend time in the weekends at the residence of a friend in the floating city where boats and jet skis were not permitted to travel at high speed.

It was a great deal quieter than our marina apartment at Tala Island and a dip in the canal a great deal safer than swimming at our beach, as boats at Al Marsa have rules concerning their speed.

I note that "concerned Amwaj resident" (September 24) is worried that removing boats from the interior will remove a fast response to swimmers themselves if they should be in danger.

Believe me, by far the greatest danger to swimmers is from the jet skis, which almost without exception are ridden at top speed by young men intent only on the thrill of speed and showing off to their friends or anyone-else who they think will be impressed by their juvenile antics.

Soon after the ban was imposed - and when the lagoon had been without boats and jet skis for a couple of weeks - a group of swimmers were out enjoying the sea in what should have been safety.

Next moment a group of nine jet skis came racing around the corner showing no sign of noticing people in the water.

The risk of death and injury was a considerably greater than anything the very gentle tide in this region could have produced, and the apparent protest in support of Jet Ski rights left some very disillusioned swimmers, some of whom personally knew people who had been killed by jet skis.

Bahrain is disturbingly short of safe swimming beaches for an island nation.

There are many marinas and places where boats and jet skis can enjoy themselves, but almost no beaches for swimmers.

Since the boat ban there has been a big increase in the number of swimmers regularly enjoying the sea and also kayakers, who previously were often swamped by the wake from jet skis and high-speed boats.

Although I do sympathise to some extent with responsible boaties, I think the value of the life of one swimmer more than outweighs the need for them to enjoy their boating activities in the interior waters of Amwaj.

Congratulations to Amwaj managment for taking an undoubtedly life saving step which they must have known would be unpopular. It is only unfortunate that errant ban breakers are putting people at even greater risk as they now swim under the illusion they are safe.

Dawn Scott (Satisfied Tala Island Swimmer).

Dear Stan,

DO you have a pony saddle tucked away in a cupboard or in the garage that you are no longer using? If you have then maybe you can help.

Some of our ponies require new saddles and as all good horse people know a used saddle in good condition is far more comfortable than a new one. So if you have such an item and would like to donate it to a 5 Star home we would thankfully accept it.

Serina, The Dilmun Club

Tel: 17690926 / 17692986

Fax: 17693032