The department of transport of transport has released new rules for kitesurfing and windsurfing in WA.

WAKSA has been consulted in the process.

www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/kite-and-windsurfing.asp

400meters would easily be broached by Kitesurfers, swimmers (training) and surfers (reef break).

is it only Kitesurfers for 400meters or all?

easy to understand why they just slap such rules on but not well considered in terms of boundaries

That's great. Hahaha

I always take my parachute flares when I go far out to sea.

So what's changed then?

Are we allowed to go out in 53 knots? That's what the weather stations are saying at the moment. Seems a little strong.

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wishy said..
Are we allowed to go out in 53 knots? That's what the weather stations are saying at the moment. Seems a little strong.

Yes but you have to turn back after 400meters, or at 53knots after about 15seconds

Hi Number,

It's a great reminder but there is nothing ''new'' here.

These signs have been in place in most kite beaches around Perth for about 2.5 years already.

Here's a shot from the one at my local beach that I took 2.5 years ago.


The question is, will these rules ever be enforced and kiters fined for non compliance ?

Personally I think the bigger problem is that most kiters aren't competent at self-rescue, no matter their skill level. Every season I notice so many of them who can't get back to the shore after getting in trouble far from the shore. Yes, wearing a life vest would make it safer, but we don't have a problem with kiters drowning, we have a problem with kiters who can't rescue themselves and this is what raises the alarms and triggers rescue operations regularly.

Christian

No,

I don't think they will be enforced. But why have regulations like this?

It is just another way for the government to tighten the grip on the population and open up for more harrassment from the authorities.

It's always the same story. Someone that never visits the beach gets the mandate to decide about things like this while hiding behind the anonymously of bureaucracy.

People like that needs to be called out and answer for their actions.


The problem with that people cannot self rescue and get back to the shore is read to solve. Just invoice them for the cost of rescue.

I think that they won't be enforced actively. You could be unlucky and get caught.

It is more likely that someone will report you (annoyed fisherman, other water user) and you will be fined. Also, if you get rescued and the police are involved they will definitely fine you, maybe even a trip to court. The courts in Qld take a dim view on this and fines can be high along with confiscation of equipment.

400m is probably based on how far they think someone can swim back.

PLB will be the way for me.

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Number said..
No,

I don't think they will be enforced. But why have regulations like this?

It is just another way for the government to tighten the grip on the population and open up for more harrassment from the authorities.

It's always the same story. Someone that never visits the beach gets the mandate to decide about things like this while hiding behind the anonymously of bureaucracy.

People like that needs to be called out and answer for their actions.


The problem with that people cannot self rescue and get back to the shore is read to solve. Just invoice them for the cost of rescue.

Cast you mind back

There used to be a bloke who for some d....head reason alway went out in very marginal wind days (pre foil)
and kited offshore, on a few occasions he'd have a bit of a rest laying on his kite without wind offshore,
Now the guys who manned the sea rescue boat got a bit pissed off
after rescuing him a few times
and apparently ran him over with the boat and showed his kite little love whilst dragging it onboard, being a pussy he tried to get some compensation for his damaged kite, the rescue crew said f...k you you retard
were gonna stitch you f........rs
and make you wear safety equip, apparently the skipper of the rescue boat was a keen windsurfer and loved nothing better than seeing kiters banned from his local spot which he'd pole danced on since the First World War ,
but poleys not being the smartest bunch didn't realise
that he'd be subjected to the same regs, At first he was a bit pissed due to the cost of additional flares, but with some bizarre luck searching his wife's bedside draw for loose change for a beer he found 3 colour coded flares
( although he's unsure if the 12in black one is offshore though)
anyhow you get my gist

Pilot Pete your a numpty for
kiting offshore in f... all wind
regards cauncy ( on behalf of all kiters wearing pfds crash hats and carrying 3 dildos)

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bjw said..
That's great. Hahaha

I always take my parachute flares when I go far out to sea.

Im not sure I should be trusted with flares!

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Adam'KiteRepair said..

bjw said..
That's great. Hahaha

I always take my parachute flares when I go far out to sea.

Im not sure I should be trusted with flares!

And this is why I keep my distance from you on the water!

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cbulota said..
Hi Number,

It's a great reminder but there is nothing ''new'' here.

These signs have been in place in most kite beaches around Perth for about 2.5 years already.

Here's a shot from the one at my local beach that I took 2.5 years ago.


The question is, will these rules ever be enforced and kiters fined for non compliance ?

Personally I think the bigger problem is that most kiters aren't competent at self-rescue, no matter their skill level. Every season I notice so many of them who can't get back to the shore after getting in trouble far from the shore. Yes, wearing a life vest would make it safer, but we don't have a problem with kiters drowning, we have a problem with kiters who can't rescue themselves and this is what raises the alarms and triggers rescue operations regularly.

Christian

Christian most proper marine searches in Perth are started by civvies on the beach seeing a kite going down offshore in the late afternoon and not knowing that we can and do self rescue. The few remaining marine searches start when kiters end up dumping their kites offshore and getting a tow back in from another kiter and going home. Their kite is found washed up on the beach and a search is started.

Nothing you can do about the first, but the second can be avoided with a phone call to water police operations.

I havent counted the everyday kiter helping someone in a pickle, though that's probably more what you're referring to?

Here's an idea, don't accept the rescue if it's not absolutely necessary.

I kite in very light wind on the river and have had some massive swims in with sodden gear, or i just persisted in relaunch or waited for the return of the wind. I recently had a kilometre or more swim in on a very quiet Monday midday and was asked by a passing SAS RIB out on the river if I was OK. I nodded my thanks, then gave an "I'm OK" signal by using the IKO/PADI symbol of fingers on top of head whilst creating an "O" , gave a quick salute and carried on.

I also have swum in from miles away in the North of Mauritius and offshore Perth too and refused rescue help there also. If offered a rescue, just tell 'em, you're fine and don't need help. If you get picked up, it gets logged and becomes ammunition for the wrong types here in the nanny state. If you are capable of making it back, do it. And before this happens, don't go out to a point where you don't think you can make it back. If it is a genuine need for rescue where your life is in peril, fair enough, but if you are able bodied, suck it up, take your medicine and do everyone else a favour.

I don't expect anyone to come and save me from a situation I chose to get myself into. Learn multiple self rescue techniques that will cover all scenarios and save your own ar$e

DM

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ActionSportsWA said..
Here's an idea, don't accept the rescue if it's not absolutely necessary.

I kite in very light wind on the river and have had some massive swims in with sodden gear, or i just persisted in relaunch or waited for the return of the wind. I recently had a kilometre or more swim in on a very quiet Monday midday and was asked by a passing SAS RIB out on the river if I was OK. I nodded my thanks, then gave an "I'm OK" signal by using the IKO/PADI symbol of fingers on top of head whilst creating an "O" , gave a quick salute and carried on.

I also have swum in from miles away in the North of Mauritius and offshore Perth too and refused rescue help there also. If offered a rescue, just tell 'em, you're fine and don't need help. If you get picked up, it gets logged and becomes ammunition for the wrong types here in the nanny state. If you are capable of making it back, do it. And before this happens, don't go out to a point where you don't think you can make it back. If it is a genuine need for rescue where your life is in peril, fair enough, but if you are able bodied, suck it up, take your medicine and do everyone else a favour.

I don't expect anyone to come and save me from a situation I chose to get myself into. Learn multiple self rescue techniques that will cover all scenarios and save your own ar$e

DM

Possibly one of the best comments I have ever read, but I never thought about it that way. I completely agree Darren. Swum myself in sailing and kiting over many many years from miles out, some pretty horrendous. Got in far worse situations in other sports as well. Now to be told I need a lifejacket and my beacon for over 400 meters out and running the risk of a fine. :)

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ActionSportsWA said..
Here's an idea, don't accept the rescue if it's not absolutely necessary.

I kite in very light wind on the river and have had some massive swims in with sodden gear, or i just persisted in relaunch or waited for the return of the wind. I recently had a kilometre or more swim in on a very quiet Monday midday and was asked by a passing SAS RIB out on the river if I was OK. I nodded my thanks, then gave an "I'm OK" signal by using the IKO/PADI symbol of fingers on top of head whilst creating an "O" , gave a quick salute and carried on.



DM

Not sure about the Padi/ IKO
sygnal, maybe the troopers thought you were signalling c..k and they thought f...k
him he can drow, and left you

PADI/IKO signal for reference

Are the surfing rules a new thing or have they been around for a while as well?

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Number said..
Are the surfing rules a new thing or have they been around for a while as well?

FFS G up inbound Surely, good one:)

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ActionSportsWA said..

.....I don't expect anyone to come and save me from a situation I chose to get myself into. Learn multiple self rescue techniques that will cover all scenarios and save your own ar$e

DM

That is very well put.

As more clueless and reckless people take up the sport (and it unfortunately is easy to pick up enough of the basics quickly and be "competent" enough to be dangerous within 3 months -without having any water and weather knowledge ....) ,we are going to wear progressively more restrictions about what we can and cant do.

When one of our local serial offending idiots finally manages to take out a passing walker or causes a head on collision on the road (as they get dragged across it- again! ) I can imagine the type of restrictions, exclusions and bans that are likely to be implemented.

The problem in encouraging clueless idiots not to accept a hand or a rescue if they can get back in themselves is that they're clueless. They don't know how much of a pickle they're in and sooner or later one will refuse help when they really should have taken it.

It's a redundant argument when the last three fatalities in WA have been by all accounts competent and sensible kiters, and not clueless idiots.

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oldjenkins said..

ActionSportsWA said..

.....I don't expect anyone to come and save me from a situation I chose to get myself into. Learn multiple self rescue techniques that will cover all scenarios and save your own ar$e

DM

That is very well put.

As more clueless and reckless people take up the sport (and it unfortunately is easy to pick up enough of the basics quickly and be "competent" enough to be dangerous within 3 months -without having any water and weather knowledge ....) ,we are going to wear progressively more restrictions about what we can and cant do.

When one of our local serial offending idiots finally manages to take out a passing walker or causes a head on collision on the road (as they get dragged across it- again! ) I can imagine the type of restrictions, exclusions and bans that are likely to be implemented.

I would love to see them signs up at my local something solid to tether off :-)

Extremely well put by all, both old man Jenkins and big bad dazza from Action sports. I suppose even you Cauncy for your as always flamboyant input.

Mr Jenkins I must wholeheartedly say I admire your passion for the safety of the individuals involved in the sport, the public and the protection of all our local spots.

Unfortunately I must openly say that I also have witnessed it first hand also at one of my local spots. What can be described as a clueless and wreckless person in action.

Let me set the incident up here & please add It's quite a flat water heaven it's known as Brennos Wall trust me it's even better then Micks spit lol. No one would want this spot closed down. That day From the water I seen this dude get lofted not high but enough to scare ya ( out of control some would say) head high or so near a toilet block with cars down wind of him. I heard later from one of the Kiter's who aided In the mans rescue that said man had miss tuned his bar or fit a wrong bar to his kite.

Understandably Yes We all make mistakes. This dude had set up rushing I suppose to hit the super flat water for a good sundown session but consequently made the school boy error of testing his new rig out on a 33plus knot day I could hardly hold my 10 down.

Pondering on it after, I thought to myself it was incredible to see the the likes of such a knowledgeable local make what can only be described a kookish mistake. the type of mistake deemed possible by someone new to the sport armed with a few lessons and the gumtree app. he was blessed that day to be saved by another die hard Kiter. I could just see from the Water the Kiter that can only be described as a brick****house Pin him down whilst his flayling miss rigged setup nearly decapitated other rescuers as they eventually tamed the out of control kite. It was around then I got WASKAS cover. Regardless of what I myself do on the water I just knew in that moment there is always gonna be mistakes be it your own or someone else's. I think I recall a chicks teeth getting smashed out down in Augusta last year and she was only visiting there spot.

Just my two cents worth but I think it should be illegal to kite without cover, it's also downright irresponsible to hit the water and not have the skill set to self rescue yourself or help / aid others around you, albeit board Retrieval,
kite retrieval or person retrieval. At this very point in time let me say also I see no problem in licensing the sport. It should be done by way or provisional licence and fully licensed. **** it may even generate some revenue for local schools by way of rpl or get safe on the Water course.

Oooooops....things just got personal. I'm off to get some popcorn so that I can sit back and watch in comfort!

Actually bugger this kiting game, it all sounds far too dangerous. I'm taking up some of Russell's dance lessons.