I think so. I kite there a few days a week and notice that very few people 'session kite' in and out of the zone. The knowledge seems to be getting out there.
Lessons seem to be held with the student/instructor on the 50 m line. Keeps them a good distance from the beach.
Also gives a nice landmark to meet your mate at "ie. I'll meet you at the second buoy", rather than "somewhere at Melville" 
Good stuff - that was the feeling I was getting when I am there too.
A good example for other locations perhaps ?
I don't know exactly how applicable it is to other locations. Melville is a little special with
-high proportion of learners
-skinny skinny beach
-proximity of houses and road
-how gusty it is being inland a bit (combined with learners
-It is shallow enough that instructors can still be next to their student 50m from shore.
But it is a good example of reasonable restrictions keeping a kite spot open. Now if they could build a multistory carpark on the empty lot across the road, that would be tops
lol
Thanks for all the responses.
I was hoping we could use Melville as an "example" of where some proactive initiatives can solve or alleviate the problem before bans or restrictions are put in place.
Of course every kiting location is different, but I think Melville shows that it can work.
Honestly, they are AN initiative, but they do stuff all. Hardly anyone obeys them, especially the people at greatest risk ( the learners and non-locals ) and we have probably had the same amount of problems that we always have had ( if not yet then the next two months will be worse )
For the locals all they have done is cause us to loose the first 50 - 100 meters of usable water next to the shore, supposedly in all conditions, and that's it. They also provide a great hazard for newbies to get their kite lines wrapped around and give them something that they now have to "dodge" while trying to learn.
All of the Beginners, and every single non-local kiter, which is probably 20-40 % have absolutely no idea what they are for and hence go in and out when they please.
This is probably not the response and type of feedback you were after, but I deal with risk management, minimization and post accident measures on a daily basis. You have to look at what the danger really is, and it isn't a kite landing on the road. I have thought about this many times and as far as I see, in reality these are the actual risks that you should be targeting to trying to prevent.
High risk Person walking upwind along the beach with kite over beach or over road, gust comes, kite luffs onto the road / trees / beach. Learners and non-locals do not know that the gusts are that bad along the beach and will be effected every time they do a walk of shame upwind ( all day long ) with there kites over the beach or further inland. high probability - happens all the time, solution, point your kite out to sea unless immediately landing
High risk Gust occurring when they are launching and / or when they are landing with kite over the beach for extended periods & kite luffs or even worse over the road. Buoys do not address this at all, Learners and non-locals are unaware of gustiness. high probability - all the time, solution - launch the kites from the sand and then place them over the sea, don't dawdle along the foreshore with kite in air
High risk Dude kites in to the point where their kites are over the beach or further inland and gust hits followed by luff, again there are no signs actually talking about the buoys on the foreshore and learners and non-locals are unlikely to deliberately kite close enough to the buoys to read the writing on them given there are 50 other kiters out there. medium probability solution - blanket rule at no time should your kite be further inland than the beach sand. ie, yes it can be within 50 meters of the shore
Highrisk learner is body bashing / kiting or launching or landing and looses control of the kite causing unintentional landing on the beach or road. Buoys would be effective at reminding them to stay out if their purpose is known while riding, there would be nothing to stop them standing on the beach for 30 minutes during the launch / landings though, which is the gustiest, riskiest part of it. High probability solution - learners listen to guidelines, need to place a couple signs stating learners stay~ 50 meters away from the beach unless launching / landing
High risk Experienced rider does a trick that will end up placing the kite over the beach or further inland afterwards, resulting from a judgement lapse, low probabilty solution - again blanket rule stating at no times should kites be further inland than over the sand. It is not common sense for some people !
High risk Gear failure leads to kite ending on the beach or road, **** happens, probability low-medium, normally with beginners using old crappy gear who also could not afford many lessons solution - possibly "Always check your safety leash" at the bottom of the sign
So the buoys firstly have no " instructions" on their use at their location is their biggest problem ie, lots of people don't even know to stay outside them. they won't stop kiters walking up the beach with kites over the road, they don't stop people dawdling on the beach waiting to launch or land and won't stop guys kiting into the point were their kite is over the road coming into land as it's generally accepted that you can kite in and out.
IMO, get rid of them, or leave them for the beginners. place 2 or 3 signs stating
Keep Kites over water at all times - addresses problem 1/2/3/5
Danger - gusty winds along shoreline -addresses problem 1/2/3/5
Beginners - stay 50 meters off shore - addresses problem 3/4
Always check your safety leash - addresses problem 5
and Beginners -> pointing to the second sign downwind of the (non-beginner) upwind kiting zone
my 2 Cents, OMFG the seabreeze is in and it wasn't even forecast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think they are a great Idea, we missed the season they were put into place, however the minute we got there this season one of the instructors out there told us straight away.
our kids have to come with us to the beach and i feel so much better knowing there are saftey zones in place.
in saying this we need signs put up, today i sat under the tree as too many kiters who didnt apear to have full control were just too close for comfort, and there are the ones comming right up to the beach to turn.
tells me the bouys are there, however there is a lack of understanding as to why they are there.
cheers
That was the second session in my entire life where a non local came and asked me if there were any specific rules for Melville today, what a co-incidence and how funny!
also, when I arrived, I saw two people paired ( with someone teaching them ) up in between the buoys and the shoreline... I suppose getting lessons.. walking upwind. enough said! More chance of these guys causing chaos than the guys riding that at least know how to fly the kites!
Hey Dr. Nick...that is a great analysis.......passionate and right, but man try and explain it all to someone who doesn't kite or has just gotten in to the sport.
Anyhow, if all the buoys have done, in perhaps a symbolic way, is to make people aware that there is danger at Melville, then yes they have helped..............but we need more help; and that help was the signs (which everyone is screaming for: Dr. Nick's rules would be perfect!) that were promised by the "authorities" at the time. DPI did their bit, but local gov. let down
Buoys without signs don't do the job I know, but at least the buoys have opened a discussing and reminder of safe kiting at Melville.........which is what we all want.
The buoys are great as they make this beautiful accessible beach a "kite beach".........believe me, this beach and foreshore were deserted until the kiters arrived........long live kiting on the river.........until they ban it of course....but until that time we must always put our best foot forward to protect this cherished spot because dam...it is best suited for kiting
Nick
Melville is almost as good as Bibra lake or the breast milk filled flat water spots in Kalgoorlie.
It will never get banned, there is more carnage done on the swan river through the weekly yacht racing, swimmers drowning because they can't swim yet they still let people in the water , the area is perfect for kiting it just requires some caution.
We need signs. Telling the odd moron to teach away from the main landing / launching zone and outside the bouys is not preventing the next moron from teaching his mate in the exact same place.
A sign would not only help those new to the area to understand the rules / appreciate the dangers but give the locals more justification and confidence when approaching people in the wrong. People tend to get very uptight when reproached by a random for doing something stupid, especially when trying to appear cool (for lack of a better word) to their students / friends / whoever, and a sign may make them think twice.
Signs will, however, not stop people like the (foreign) woman i told the other week that running her lines on the footpath may not be the best idea.......... and even she seemed put out that i'd said something.. though there may have been some (very slight) undertones of sarcasm as i told her. For these people, i fear, there is no hope.
Hamish
