There haven't been any posts about this on the SUP forums and I guess many SUPers wouldn't see much boating safety stuff.
Basically all fun is cancelled for the duration. It seems that surfing is permitted, but travelling to the surf is not.
The examples given talk about paddle and wind powered craft. You might get away by paddling by hand. The "human powered" bit might catch you out,
I take exception at the "Anyone who chooses to head out on the water is putting themselves and others at risk." statement. I feel more at risk dodging runners and cyclists on the local paths.
I get why they say it, but it damages their credibility in my eyes. It reeks of "you're mad extreme sports dudes and must be stopped" as opposed to being incredibly experienced people with an affinity for water.
betterboating.vic.gov.au/news/covid19-boatramp-closures/
its like we are the sybol of rebellion or something .. i honestly can't figure the water ban out
same here ...i was thinking of getting dropped off up the road and walk the rest ..will that work .?
but yeah WTF....its more risk getting the kung flu in the bloody supermarket with hundreds of other shoppers ..??
GMF ed.
Select to expand quotekato said..
Totally agree , time to write to my local member. They LOVE to respond
Obviously, Pollies don't surf.
Along with Surf Skis and Kayaking. Based on today, plenty of people on the Surf Coast aren't aware they're all included in the boating ban.
' being incredibly experienced people with an affinity for water.'
I am not sure on this statement that is really an assumption, especially if you were to look at the statistics of SUP rescues per annum per state in Australia.
" A recipe for disaster "
Select to expand quotewazza66 said..
Thought Vic was the smart state
Changing to "the police state"
Select to expand quoteJacksboards said..
' being incredibly experienced people with an affinity for water.'
I am not sure on this statement that is really an assumption, especially if you were to look at the statistics of SUP rescues per annum per state in Australia.
" A recipe for disaster "
Really ? What and where are those statistics found and are we talking surf or race board type sups
I've sent a query regarding using a SUP in the surf to Victorian DHHS. Will report back if I get an answer.
Select to expand quoteMarkW81 said..
I've sent a query regarding using a SUP in the surf to Victorian DHHS. Will report back if I get an answer.
DHHS confirmed boating includes surfing with a SUP.
Select to expand quotemicksmith said..wazza66 said..
Thought Vic was the smart state
Changing to "the police state"
Dan Andrews living his utopia.
Select to expand quoteFoghorn said..micksmith said..wazza66 said..
Thought Vic was the smart state
Changing to "the police state"
Dan Andrews living his utopia.
The reason these activities are banned is so everyone will stay home, hence limiting the spread of the virus. Where these types of actions haven't been taken, look at the result. New York, New Orleans, Italy Spain.
talk to a nurse who has cared for people with the virus this is not the flu. if these activities were not banned we would have half of city population trapsing around regional areas of the country over Easter and quite possibly spreading the virus.
It seems to be the government ( who by the way are guided by some of the best health authorities in the world) are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
So if you live near the beach going for a paddle is more likely to spread the virus than going for a run on the path next to the beach.Its pretty hard to get within 2m of someone in the ocean.
I AGREE people should not be travelling through the regions and over running small communities.
Select to expand quotelam said..Foghorn said..micksmith said..wazza66 said..
Thought Vic was the smart state
Changing to "the police state"
Dan Andrews living his utopia.
The reason these activities are banned is so everyone will stay home, hence limiting the spread of the virus. Where these types of actions haven't been taken, look at the result. New York, New Orleans, Italy Spain.
talk to a nurse who has cared for people with the virus this is not the flu. if these activities were not banned we would have half of city population trapsing around regional areas of the country over Easter and quite possibly spreading the virus.
It seems to be the government ( who by the way are guided by some of the best health authorities in the world) are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Gee thanks for enlightening us, it's actually not the overall rule it's the exceptions I'm annoyed about, eg one can go for a surf on a prone board but not if you have a paddle in your hand, we've all heard on the news of the ridiculous fines being issued to individuals and then revoked so the cops are obviously making mistakes. But then I suppose they have to get their revenue from somewhere considering less traffic on the roads.
Select to expand quotemicksmith said..lam said..Foghorn said..micksmith said..wazza66 said..
Thought Vic was the smart state
Changing to "the police state"
Dan Andrews living his utopia.
The reason these activities are banned is so everyone will stay home, hence limiting the spread of the virus. Where these types of actions haven't been taken, look at the result. New York, New Orleans, Italy Spain.
talk to a nurse who has cared for people with the virus this is not the flu. if these activities were not banned we would have half of city population trapsing around regional areas of the country over Easter and quite possibly spreading the virus.
It seems to be the government ( who by the way are guided by some of the best health authorities in the world) are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Gee thanks for enlightening us, it's actually not the overall rule it's the exceptions I'm annoyed about, eg one can go for a surf on a prone board but not if you have a paddle in your hand, we've all heard on the news of the ridiculous fines being issued to individuals and then revoked so the cops are obviously making mistakes. But then I suppose they have to get their revenue from somewhere considering less traffic on the roads.
In these times everyone's a bit annoyed mick, but we are in a new paradigm and the govt are the first to admit they are making decisions on the run. These decisions are not always perfect and there will be inconsistencies in the mean time you will just have to learn to chill a little.
Select to expand quotelam said..micksmith said..lam said..Foghorn said..micksmith said..wazza66 said..
Thought Vic was the smart state
Changing to "the police state"
Dan Andrews living his utopia.
The reason these activities are banned is so everyone will stay home, hence limiting the spread of the virus. Where these types of actions haven't been taken, look at the result. New York, New Orleans, Italy Spain.
talk to a nurse who has cared for people with the virus this is not the flu. if these activities were not banned we would have half of city population trapsing around regional areas of the country over Easter and quite possibly spreading the virus.
It seems to be the government ( who by the way are guided by some of the best health authorities in the world) are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Gee thanks for enlightening us, it's actually not the overall rule it's the exceptions I'm annoyed about, eg one can go for a surf on a prone board but not if you have a paddle in your hand, we've all heard on the news of the ridiculous fines being issued to individuals and then revoked so the cops are obviously making mistakes. But then I suppose they have to get their revenue from somewhere considering less traffic on the roads.
In these times everyone's a bit annoyed mick, but we are in a new paradigm and the govt are the first to admit they are making decisions on the run. These decisions are not always perfect and there will be inconsistencies in the mean time you will just have to learn to chill a little.
Got nothing else to do but chill mate, it's their job to get it right and there's just too many examples of inconsistencies.
Select to expand quotemicksmith said..lam said..micksmith said..lam said..Foghorn said..micksmith said..wazza66 said..
Thought Vic was the smart state
Changing to "the police state"
Dan Andrews living his utopia.
The reason these activities are banned is so everyone will stay home, hence limiting the spread of the virus. Where these types of actions haven't been taken, look at the result. New York, New Orleans, Italy Spain.
talk to a nurse who has cared for people with the virus this is not the flu. if these activities were not banned we would have half of city population trapsing around regional areas of the country over Easter and quite possibly spreading the virus.
It seems to be the government ( who by the way are guided by some of the best health authorities in the world) are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Gee thanks for enlightening us, it's actually not the overall rule it's the exceptions I'm annoyed about, eg one can go for a surf on a prone board but not if you have a paddle in your hand, we've all heard on the news of the ridiculous fines being issued to individuals and then revoked so the cops are obviously making mistakes. But then I suppose they have to get their revenue from somewhere considering less traffic on the roads.
In these times everyone's a bit annoyed mick, but we are in a new paradigm and the govt are the first to admit they are making decisions on the run. These decisions are not always perfect and there will be inconsistencies in the mean time you will just have to learn to chill a little.
Got nothing else to do but chill mate, it's their job to get it right and there's just too many examples of inconsistencies.
It's there job to do the best they can and hopefully they get it right, just like the rest of us but I take your point
So we can not go for a surf Sup via walking from home to offbeat beach access , But Melbourne'its can come down to holiday houses ?
Mixed Gov messages.
Just watching TV where Police and other Services at Qld border are leaning into Cars with NO Face Masks . And they want us to respect their Judgments 
Stay home, Stay Safe
Select to expand quoteJacksboards said..
' being incredibly experienced people with an affinity for water.'
I am not sure on this statement that is really an assumption, especially if you were to look at the statistics of SUP rescues per annum per state in Australia.
" A recipe for disaster "
Do tell. How many rescues?
Had a look at the EMT figures for water sports to figure out our risk factor.
In the end.... no idea as they lump all water sports into one category, including kites
The best I could find is this.
Surfing as an injury rate of 2.2 injuries per 1000 days surfed
Windsurfing 1.5 per 1000
Bike riding was about 10,500 per year and 38 deaths
So brains trust, how do we get this changed? Who do we talk/write and text. This might be for a long time and I don't want to see our shops and shapers go under just because of a dumb ruling. Someone said that we must be seen doing the right thing..... WHY !! Does seen doing the right thing work better than doing the right thing .
If you read the fine print on the Boating Victoria link, there is no fine or penalty for being caught going for a paddle.
The only fines that can be levied are for leaving the home for a non permitted thing, or other Covid 19 stuff.
No one has the authority to fine you for being on the water, they have to classify it under one of the prohibited things.
I pay a man a lot of money to tell me not to do "What If...", and to tell me not to worry about what other people think of how I behave.
Hey Kato
Relax a bit, do some push ups or walk around the block, don't confuse my comment with the regulations banning SUP.
Near my location during Summer newcomer SUP riders need to be returned to shore by Good Samaritans or The Volunteer Coast Guard often.
Not everyone has wind knowledge and assuming that everyone who has bought a SUP and has marine knowledge because they chose SUP is a big assumption.
This was the direction of my comment and my post.
I know it is frustrating that BCF Kayak or Anaconda guys that need rescuing are put with SUP yet we share a paddle and its maybe easier paperwork for the authorities.
As I found out from a Parks Ranger over 5 years ago, whilst SUPing at Rye next to the pier, I was threatened with a fine for being in a non boating zone on my SUP.
The ranger made it clear that my SUP was considered a vessel as it is powered with a tool being the paddle I had in my hand.
It's the law and there is not much we can do at this point I believe.
Some of you guys will remember years ago some very experienced SUP downwind crew from this forum who got into a spot of bother and needed some rescue assistance.
On other occasions there has also been money wasted by Search and Rescue in Victoria sending assets out for people who were actually in control whilst down-winding on SUP's. The general public were concerned for those crew and they were reported as in trouble from a few sources.
Launching choppers and boats in storms is very expensive and an obvious waste of taxpayers money, to find out the SUP crew were ok in this occasion would have been very frustrating for the rescue team.
Surf SUP, flatwater SUP, inflatable SUP whatever SUP its all the same to the authorities unfortunately.
I hope you are fortunate and still in employment Kato unlike some of us on here who have lost every revenue stream they have due to the Virus or even worse have an unwell family member due to the virus. Your comment is simply water off a ducks back with everything that has happened this year in the Tourism sector.
There is lots of mis information going around these days, face masks essential then not essential, surfing not allowed in some states then allowed in another.
Let's not let Stand Up Paddle on this forum become another avenue of miss information.
Maybe get a boogie board, it's currently allowed and safer than riding a fibreglass board, just a note getting out of the shore break with flippers is harder than riding the bloody bit of sponge. 
No dig, just chasing real data not hear say. Just frustrated with let's ban everyone without any real medical reasons. Don't travel is real.
Still working having come off a really crap fire season. But all still good as I can get to the water and surf...with a paddle. Good luck all but I'll keep shouting at the sky to get some common (Medical) sense into the restrictions
Not a judgement on anyone's choices.
Just my take on Beach Closings and other difficult decisions... many of them wrong.
That is simply the nature of things in times of "crisis"
No one is "right"
So, I decide for myself.
and believe me, more than half of me says:
"Not next time. I will not do this again"
I do NOT do well with excessive government control
Especially if it hides behind the the excuse.... "it's for the good of the people"
and, for the record:
Surfing is NOT banned where I live.
Almost ALL my friends are surfing and paddling..... I am happy for them.
The waves have been spectacular (see pics)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
As fate would have it:
# 1 - TWO days ago, a SUPster was surfing at one of my local breaks
He took his board to the face
Major damage, face severely injured, teeth knocked out, jaw broken, tissue damage
#2 - Last week, at one of my go-to road trip spots, A SUPster, jumped into shallow water at the end of a wave and broke his ankle
BOTH needed:
Trip to the ER.... Nurse's, Doctors, precious Medical equipment and time was used to treat them.
I don't want to be that guy.
It is not about me right now.
Waves I passed up last week:
and I'm ok with that.
My local
one of my go-to, road trip peaks
Lots out surfing
kato,
Im pretty sure things will return to normal once the easter break is over. Spoke to a couple of local boys in blue at the invy foreshore on friday and asked if they would fine anyone for being on the beach, as the weekend no beach access at anytime and for any reason was only a council sanction. Their answer was no fines as long as you are social distancing...
I think we all just have a breathe let the tension die down a bit and we should be OK back in the water next week. After all most of these restrictions have been put in place for our own safety and more importantly the safety of others who may be more susceptible.
The NO beach access runs out midnight monday....... Anyway thats my plan as its looking OK for later in the week. Safe SUPing.
I can think of a few reasons why they ban water sports.
It's far simpler to ban stuff and make the problem go away. It would be too hard for police to look at people on the water and make decisions on what is allowed and what isn't. We're pretty much a minority so who cares?
Paddle sports and wind sports have a spectrum of expertise. You get the hard core water dudes that virtually live in the ocean, and the general public that buy kayaks and SUPs and stuff from Anaconda and Costco and go out and try and drown themselves. Again, it's too hard to differentiate so just ban it all.
I have a feeling that the authorities (who are essentially the general public) just don't "get" things like SUP and kite surfing and foiling and all the rest. They think of them as extreme sports and that people who do them are a bit mad.
It's ironic that one of the main benefits of most water-based activities is that they are inherently safe and inherently social distancing. I gave up motorbike riding in the 80's to focus on windsurfing. On land you crash and you're hurt. On water you crash and you get wet.
Select to expand quotebomberdave said..
.....
The NO beach access runs out midnight monday....... Anyway thats my plan as its looking OK for later in the week. Safe SUPing.
The councils control the beaches. Parks Victoria sets the rules for the water ways. The council can say you can go to the beach. They can't approve you being out on the water.
The notification doesn't mention Easter or any end dates. Hopefully they'll see sense and allow people to access the water in a safe manner. There's talk in the papers about the COVID-19 "end game" so maybe some sensible easing of the restrictions will happen soon.
PS A friend's son has to go for surgery after slicing three fingers playing with his new router. We need to lockdown home handymen.
