There are reports coming through on the East Coast of kiters traveling within the flagged zone on the beach, this is strictly against the rules and will lead to bans, gear confiscation and even arrest. There can be flow on effects for other kiters who do obey the rules, we do not want to lose access to any beaches so don't be a knob and do not kite in the flagged zones.
If you are doing downwinders, no matter how good that wave is, do not kite through the flagged zone unless you are well out to sea. The rules say clearly that the exclusion zone is 500m out to sea from the flagged area, which is a bloody long way I know, but you must stay well clear. (our local clubbies seem happy with a 250-300m - we've asked them)

What really annoys me is that most of the people who go thought the flagged area seems to be locals.
At Wanda, thought to Cronulla every now and then a traveller or tourist will go through the flagged swimming area.
But locals who walk to the beach with their gear go through the flagged swimming all the time and no one says anything.

Whinging on here does not change anything, people need to take action and confront these serial offenders.

Also so it is pointless to check with the local lifeguards what's ok with them. They may say 300m is fine and they are ok with that, but if push came to shove the distance out from the flags at a surf beach is 560m and they will deny they said you where ok to come closer.

Yes Steve 560m Not 500m

Would not have had a clue that the exclusion zone is this far if I did not read this post. Probably most kiters are not aware of this rule and this is why they don't observe it. It defies logic and it is not posted anywhere (at least I have not seen any signs in Perth). Any reasonable person would think that if you are 100m away from the furthest swimmer it is safe enough.

How can you go past the flags more than 400 meters out? In WA you will need life jackets, epirb and flares to legally go that far away from the beach. More likely to get a fine from the transport people than the clubbies.

I just hope a third set of flags dont appear at greenhills (Cronulla) where that new lifegaurd tower is

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Spitfire said..
How can you go past the flags more than 400 meters out? In WA you will need life jackets, epirb and flares to legally go that far away from the beach. More likely to get a fine from the transport people than the clubbies.

Same in NSW. You technically need a life jacket more than 400 m from shore; so you legally can not go past a flagged area without one. Thankfully I have never heard of this being enforced.

Nobody is ever swimming 400 meters off shore - its just crazy.

I've kited near flags before, the clubbies can see if you are conscientious to the swimmers or if you are being a knob. To intentionally go through a flagged area is just stupid.

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RosieKB said..
Nobody is ever swimming 400 meters off shore - its just crazy.

I've kited near flags before, the clubbies can see if you are conscientious to the swimmers or if you are being a knob. To intentionally go through a flagged area is just stupid.

The post was meant to educate, and it clearly does help, going by the comments. Like RosieKB says just stay a respectful distance out from the beach and swimmers.
I think the rule is 500M (+60M) because SLSC's have events where they do have swimmers and kneeboarders going out that far.

Make it clear that you are going around, don't hack any waves directly out from the flagged area, that way the clubbies on patrol can see you are just transitioning the flagged zone.

If only we had designated kite beaches where there was no swimming or sunbathing allowed within 100m of a kiter.

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Spitfire said..
How can you go past the flags more than 400 meters out? In WA you will need life jackets, epirb and flares to legally go that far away from the beach. More likely to get a fine from the transport people than the clubbies.

And a passport to land back in Australia!!!

Flags mean there is some dude waving his arm whilst standing on beach in speedo's.