Steve73 said...

Wtih the summer moving on and more people on the water at "The Pond". I would like to raise the issue of safety on the water with regards to Kites & Windsurfer in a confined space. ....

...We did not have this conflict of space whilst the two sports were seperated one either side of the raised sand bank. Do we need to have the arrangement as it is at Corros where there are signs designating two usage areas? Will it take another severe injury or worse a fatality before action is taken? Would it not be commonsense to go back to our old sailing areas and avoid this potentially dangerous situation?

Hi Steve, I think you need signs there. I can understand why kiters visiting the area wouldn't know where they are expected to sail, and even if they thought to ask, the person they ask may not know anyway.

When Simon from GoWindsurfing was there, he or his guys would talk to the kiters and let them know what the local setup was. Now that this doesn't happen, how can the kiters know?

I think the angry looks and the shouting wouldn't mean much to them either, as they are probably used to it by now

Can you see if CALM can put up signs that show where the windsurfers can sail, the kiters can sail, where the shared areas are, and where the white pointers are allowed to swim? If you can at least do the last part before I get there in January, it would be much appreciated

Cheers.

Gonewindsurfing247 said...

Perhaps one of the representatives from the "Safety" Bay Windsurfing Club would like to comment?

The signs in Geraldton were errected thanks to the Geraldton Windsurfing Club after consultation with the council - perhaps the SBWC could do the same?????

Hey 24x7, you live there. Why aren't you a member?

Yeah, that makes sense.

It seems everyone knows of the problem, but as you said for the council to listen it would need 'the club' to bring up the safety issue, not just individuals.

I went down there last saturday as a kiter, there was about 20 poley's racing in the pond. I was trying to give them a lot of room and keep out the way but some of the windsurfers riding there were just being plain nobs. Like squeezing us upwind into a few millimeters of water, overtaking upwind then racing downwind and cutting us off.

I have great respect for your sport in the waves but I think that the flat water aspect of it is pretty lame, but I guess the waves aren't for everyone. If I was out at Lancelin in the waves, I would give priority to the windsurfer riding the waves. The flat water part of the pond is perfect for kiting freestyle, so I think you guys should learn to at least share the water rather trying to own it.

Really both parties need to lift their game, kook kitesurfers don't look when they jump (that means behind them and downwind) and give everyone around them space. Poley's should be more aware of overtaking kiters downwind from behind and should just plainly learn how to ride nicer together without all this squeezing upwind etc. that occurs.

You paint the picture as the kiters being the bad guys but really based on riding there last weekend, the windsurfers were by far the more aggressive riders with the kiters I was with from Woodies giving them plenty of space. Clearly you have issues with other kiters but it was evident that they were not stoked to have us riding there regardless of the space we were trying to give them.

Spacemonkey! said...

I went down there last saturday as a kiter, there was about 20 poley's racing in the pond. I was trying to give them a lot of room and keep out the way but some of the windsurfers riding there were just being plain nobs. Like squeezing us upwind into a few millimeters of water, overtaking upwind then racing downwind and cutting us off.

<snip>

You paint the picture as the kiters being the bad guys but really based on riding there last weekend, the windsurfers were by far the more aggressive riders with the kiters I was with from Woodies giving them plenty of space. Clearly you have issues with other kiters but it was evident that they were not stoked to have us riding there regardless of the space we were trying to give them.

Yeah, I see your point of view. I am a seasonal visitor there and have seen both sides. When you are sailing near someone that knows what they are doing, windsurfing or kiting, it doesn't bother you at all.

It's only when they don't know what they are doing that it gets dangerous. I have had as many windsurfers that don't understand who has right of way as I have had kiters. There often seems to be a 'who can outpoint who' competition with some windsurfers who obviously don't know who should be going where.

It's just that kiters have a much larger area in which they can affect me than a windsurfer which worries me. If I see kiters sailing and it's obvious that they know what they are doing, there's no problem.

I don't think anyone wants to get rid of kiters from the area, but maybe by having designated areas for beginner windsurfers and beginner kiters, the safety aspect could be improved?

RESPONSE today from Dept of Planning & Infrastructure - Marine Safety

At present there is no legislation that adequately controls kite surfing and some other new forms of aquatic sport, however our department is initiating legislation changes to include kite surfing, we have a number of recommended legislation changes currently under review to accommodate these and other types of new recreational craft. Additionally we are researching the other states of Australia to see how they manage this sport and we intend to gain input from all stakeholders including the kite surfing organisations to develop strategies for an overall management plan.

This area of navigable waters comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and their officers are responsible for compliance monitoring in this area.

Having re-entered the sport after a sixteen year break I have no idea of right of way and recommended practice for sailing with kiters as they were not yet invented in 1991 so I would appreciate if someone could explain this for me.

Little Jon said...

Having re-entered the sport after a sixteen year break I have no idea of right of way and recommended practice for sailing with kiters as they were not yet invented in 1991 so I would appreciate if someone could explain this for me.

I hope Reg doesn't mind:

http://www.windsurfingperth.com.au/tips/water-rules.html

It doesn't say what to do when approaching a kite where you have right of way yet the kiter just thinks you are trying to get upwind of him, or when the kiter has right of way yet to keep clear of them requires a huge turn downwind. With both scenarios there can be problems if there are misunderstandings of who is meant to do what.

Hi Steve,

I witnessed the incident, I was kiting upwind at the top of the weedbank. I agree it could have been much worse. I went and spoke with the kiter in question straight after, he was visibly shacken and remorseful. I didn't hear what he was say to you immediately after, but his mannerism appeared to be very apologetic.

With the second encounter which I never saw but heard about, it appeared that 2 freestylers kites tangled becoming uncontrolled. I believe those guy's to be accomplished kiters, but it appeared something went wrong.

IMO the sandbar area becomes a dangerous area when the wind is of a more southerly direction. Reason being it brings the sailboarders into the cove on the port tack to gybe, SW direction seems like the sailboaders go from beach to weed bank. That works much better as it generally leaves a buffer zone.

I don't agree kiters should have to go out behind the sandbar, there needs to be some rules written up so we can coexist together. No one owns any area or has rights over one another. If anything the kiters should have priority of inside the sandbar, as the wind there is disturbed for sailboarders by the height of the bar and kites are unaffected.

Please Don't get me wrong and interpret things the wrong way. I'm a local of 29 years and been enjoying these waters for recreation for 20 of them. I'm trying to think like an ex windsurfer and current kiter, there needs to be a happy medium. We can't expect visitors to just turn up and know what to do without any information. WE need standard signs for both disciplines at each launch area along the coast.

BTW (this is off topic) their is a sailboarder amongst you that deviates course and bares down on me. I've dismissed it several times thinking he's a kook and struggling with the gust's, these deliberate acts only create bad atmosphere and animosity. I definately won't hesitate approaching you either if it continues.

Blaster said...


I don't agree kiters should have to go out behind the sandbar, there needs to be some rules written up so we can coexist together. No one owns any area or has rights over one another. If anything the kiters should have priority of inside the sandbar, as the wind there is disturbed for sailboarders by the height of the bar and kites are unaffected.

I also thought the idea of going past the sandbar for kites was partially because it is a good safe place to launch and a long way away from the power lines? Is there something wrong with the spot?

So, how do you think it could be solved if there aren't designated areas? Seriously, I'm wondering if there are any other options?

I am unsure of who has right of way when sailing behind a kiter on a starboard tack and the kiter jumps. He is now is the air and you are approaching at speed. Is he still a sailing vessel? In theory, you would expect him to look around before he does this, but some don't.

It's a congested area close to the beach, so would a 'no jumping' rule help in that area?

I don't recall the wind being disturbed that much inside the sand bar to be a problem when sailing.

Blaster said...


BTW (this is off topic) their is a sailboarder amongst you that deviates course and bares down on me. I've dismissed it several times thinking he's a kook and struggling with the gust's, these deliberate acts only create bad atmosphere and animosity. I definately won't hesitate approaching you either if it continues.

Yeah, it's sad, but you get idiots in every sport. I agree, it's stupid behavior.

I am suggesting that if there were clear rules written somewhere, then idiots like this that you describe might learn. Maybe.

Sailboards enter the cove upwind , bear off wind for speed then exit down wind for a full circuit to the other side. For us it's an organized flow of motion. Enter kites whom some exit the cove upwind against the grain of incoming sailboards, I don't think sailboards are trying to be difficult, we are just following the same course we always have with the cove being the best part for speed and tricks.
Would it be out of the question for kites to join the flow and maybe do longer runs as we do so everyone gets a fair go.

That's even better than mine of SB(not hard)
Only resized on photoshop from your post, hope you don't mind, it was to good not to use. I'll drop in over the weekend.