Whats happening guys,

Wee bit new to this whole kitesurfing scene.

Few questions in regards to WAKSA Rules and Regs

- Is there a punishment for landing or launching a kite on a beach that does not permit kites?

- If I come into trouble and need to self-rescue, do i have to sail down to the beach that permits kites or can I self rescue to the nearest beach?

- Can Kitesurfers share the same water as windsurfers on the swan river? If not what places are subject to separation of kitesurfers and windsurfers?

- When doing the downwind from Leighton to Trig, is there a distance off shore that kitesurfers must remain at? Can kitesurfers come near the beach to ride waves even if the beach does not permit kites?

I may have forgotten some, but if you have any tips please shoot them my way!

Cheers

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PaulyOS said..
Whats happening guys,

Wee bit new to this whole kitesurfing scene.

Few questions in regards to WAKSA Rules and Regs

- Is there a punishment for landing or launching a kite on a beach that does not permit kites?

- If I come into trouble and need to self-rescue, do i have to sail down to the beach that permits kites or can I self rescue to the nearest beach?

- Can Kitesurfers share the same water as windsurfers on the swan river? If not what places are subject to separation of kitesurfers and windsurfers?

- When doing the downwind from Leighton to Trig, is there a distance off shore that kitesurfers must remain at? Can kitesurfers come near the beach to ride waves even if the beach does not permit kites?

I may have forgotten some, but if you have any tips please shoot them my way!

Cheers

1 - No there is no punishment. WAKSA only provides guidelines to it's members and those interested. The idea behind the rules is to keep beach access open and not piss off other water users etc. The spots highlighted on the WAKSA page are generally the safest places / most popular to go. Many have been negotiated with local authorities etc.
2 - Self rescue where you need to and where you think is safe. Its your neck you got to worry about there.
3 - They are generally separated, see the WAKSA guides on the website. At Melville there are two distinct areas, if you cant recognise the windsurfing area then I would probably question what you are doing. You might cop a few kamikaze attacks if you drift too close to the windsurf area as well.
4 - There is no minimum distance, however there are some "no go zones".. IE Cott Main and the SLSC areas at Cott and Swanbourne. City beach, floreat SLSC area.

Overall no one is going to stop you from kiting anywhere but that being said, use some common sense and don't bash through flagged areas and swimming beaches.

Please use your common sense and go with kiters who've been doing the Perth scene downwinders for a while. Not only for your own safety, but to keep the peace with other beach users.
A few tips, given you're new to the scene:
- Fishermen - if you see a fisherman, stay a good 50m offshore, including down-wind of them - their lines drift northward when the SW wind is blowing. Fishermen, particularly at Floreat drain pipe are getting pissed due to kiters snapping their fishing gear. And, stay clear for your own safety too - I have seen some close calls with fish-hooks stuck in wetsuits - damn lucky no skin or worse got torn off.
- Hidden reefs - Grant St dog beach area, Swanbourne 'nude beach' and northern leighton / artifical reef area in particular have some 'hidden' reefs very close to shore. Take it easy through there so you don't fall off and smash yourself up.
- SAS firing range - don't go through there when the red flags on the sentry towers on the beach are up. Check for red flags when you head south in your car. If the flags are up, go leighton to swanny, or city to brighton. Don't want any pissed off SAS troopers closing that section of beach!
- Look down-wind - before you go racing into the impact zone chasing a wave, visually scan a few 100m down the line and spot the oncoming swimmer / surfer / other beach users in the shallows BEFORE you suddenly find yourself out of control heading straight for them!
Happy and safe kiting