NSW
268 posts
Does anyone know the rules for powered water craft in an estuary surf break ? Particulaly jetskis wave jumping when there were clearly 2 SUP surfers and three kids on plastic kayaks. One passed me at a distance of around 10 meters while I was on a wave and he was airbourne at the time. The maritime police were hanging around but didn't seem to want to get involved. I thought that there was a 200 meter exclusion from both a surf zone and swimmers, surely this applies at noveltu waves without a beach.
Interested to know both what the rules are and who to go to to get some action as this is clearly an accident waiting to happen.
NSW
29 posts
If you are talking about the Richmond river then it sure is an accident waiting to happen. I put up with them all year but this time of year is bull****. I was under the impression that there is a 60m rule regarding swimmers/surfers. Something needs to happen about it as more and more people are using the spot to teach their kids how to surf.
NSW
32 posts
60 metres is the distance required
Should be plenty of room if the distance is maintained
NSW
6 posts
By chance I sat my boat driving test today.
Its min. 60m to people in water / a dive flag, or 30m from any other vessel / structure etc.
If the above is not possible then a safe distance and speed, so probably not applicable in the situation you describe
NSW
66 posts
This is what NSW Maritime site says:
PWC restriction zone means the waters (including any tributaries) of Avoca Lake, Botany Bay, Brisbane Water, Broken Bay, Bulbararing Lagoon, Cockrone Lagoon, Cooks River, Dee Why Lagoon, Georges River, Hawkesbury River, Manly Reservoir, Manly Lagoon, Narrabeen Lakes, Nepean River, Port Hacking, Prospect Reservoir, Terrigal Lagoon, Wamberal Lagoon and Woronora River (but does not include any open waters).
PWCs are not permitted to be used for 'irregular driving' within 200 metres of a river bank or shore when operating in the restriction zones. Penalties apply.
Examples of irregular driving are:
Driving in a circle or other pattern
Weaving or diverting
Surfing down or jumping over or across, any swell, wave or wash.
This means that PWCs must be operated generally in a straight line within 200 metres of the shoreline.
I live next to Baysurf break in Port Hacking and watch these clowns regularly. The quoted rules are often broken. The Bay can be a zoo especially over summer. Jetskis jump at high speed and happily chop up a break. Basically it is not patrolled by Police, and Maritime or Coast Patrol don't intervene. Thus open slather. Throw in hero clubbies on their rowboats, outrigggers that can't steer and surf skis that run a straight line and you potentially have havoc in the break. They usually disappear by Autumn. Through summer short of reporting their rego number after the event perhaps try taking a go pro and make sure they know your pointing it at them.
220 posts
I know where you are talking about and i usually find a brief recitation of the rules usually works:
"OI! SIXTY METERS YOU STUPID ****"
Combine this with pointing the camera at them and you have no drama.
NSW
919 posts
Yeah. I have also recently looked up the rulings as it is happening at my break as well. The waves & swell are bigger & break out further at the entrance mouth than the beaches.
The Jetski riders see this & either hang around doing short stints hoping we don't get annoyed then take off only to come back later & do it again. Some just race out the entrance & pass at least half the distance away from us. And obviously some just don't give a crap & hang around for ages!
Either way it's annoying when they churn up the water making it difficult to balance & surf.
I can put up with the boats that just go past to deeper waters to fish. But the jetskis want to play in the same surf zones & love to show off. Even if there is miles of beach shoreline to go to.
I have noticed it is getting much worse with the growing population & jetskis.
I think the rules need to be revisited.
