Please read in regard to these changeshttp://www.waksa.org.au/kitesurfing-news/offshore-kite-and-wind-surfers-need-safety-gear
Can you please give us an example of a typical set up for the safety requirements to be complied with?
What exact safety gear should we have and how do we carry it?
Select to expand quotekiterboy said..
Can you please give us an example of a typical set up for the safety requirements to be complied with?
What exact safety gear should we have and how do we carry it?
kiterboy , did you bother to read the statement on the website ? Hopefully it will be more clearer this week . Select to expand quoteThe initial media release by DOT does have some minor inconsistences that are being resolved over the next few days and we will provide the updated link when ready. Select to expand quote
Points we raised focused on allowances for various forms of PFD be included and latitude around flares and EPIRB requirements.
Select to expand quotekiterboy said..
Just wondering how to carry an epirb and flares with a pfd.
i have a pouch on the back of my pfd which is accesible . that's where i would and do store my gear .
Kiters wearing life jackets and carrying flares and an epirb is bloody ridiculous and laughable . Just more rules and BS. Humans have become so precious.
These rules will just prompt kiters do do less of the right thing. If im breaking one rule why not break them all.
Rather than flares, why not just have modifications made to the kite? Instead of inflating with air, maybe just use some hydrogen. Then when you are crusing along and you unexpectadly loose total control (possibly get hit by a boat or maybe an asteroid). You then just need to hit your panic button. This is wired to trigger ignition of the kite. everyone from miles around will then be able to see you are in a bit of trouble and obviously need assistance. The great thing about this too is it totally disengages the kite, so no worries about getting dragged out to sea with a line around your big toe. Brings a whole new meaning to the kiting term Hindenburging.
Select to expand quotebillykiter said..
Rather than flares, why not just have modifications made to the kite? Instead of inflating with air, maybe just use some hydrogen. Then when you are crusing along and you unexpectadly loose total control (possibly get hit by a boat or maybe an asteroid). You then just need to hit your panic button. This is wired to trigger ignition of the kite. everyone from miles around will then be able to see you are in a bit of trouble and obviously need assistance. The great thing about this too is it totally disengages the kite, so no worries about getting dragged out to sea with a line around your big toe. Brings a whole new meaning to the kiting term Hindenburging.
I'm loving the visuals!
One of the best posts on SB for ages 
Select to expand quotedusta said...kiterboy said..
Just wondering how to carry an epirb and flares with a pfd.
i have a pouch on the back of my pfd which is accesible . that's where i would and do store my gear .
I thought skippys had there pouch on the front Dusta?
Sure you western aus guys have better wind, but at least here on the east we don't have to wear a life jacket.
Select to expand quoteTrapped said..
Sure you western aus guys have better wind, but at least here on the east we don't have to wear a life jacket.
That is true about the wind..
You guys start frothing out at 12 knots... Bahahah
We dont even care when it's 12 -15 knots in WA.. People just go paddleboarding instead until it hits 20knots around lunchtime in summer Summer.
Just for the record though I wear a life jacket because I think it's stupid not to when doing water sport.
This is still by choice though :p
I am perplexed by the new rules to protect us against ourselves.
It is common knowledge most kitesurfing injuries and deaths actually happen on land. The two deaths/major injuries that I know about in WA that were water related were at Australind and safety bay. Both were in close proximity of land in an onshore breeze, both hit object on land.
Surfers injuries happen all the time, mostly when you hit the bottom or from fin cuts. OK so surfers must wear pfd's. Deaths, Sharks comes up. So surfers must wear shark pods. As redicilous and over-regulated as this sounds, it would save more lives and more hospital visits than this drivel.
So Margs, Yallingup, Dutchies, Lancelin, gnarloo on a good day to name a few are all technically out of bounds?????? Remember we all have to do the circuit out the back.
I also think flares & EPIRB are over the top!
I personally wear a lifejacket when foiling or racing in the ocean far from shore, but carrying flares or even an EPIRB is completely over kill!
Stupid question, but if you are knocked out, how do you activate your EPIRB, or fire flares...?
From what I can imagine will happen, it won't be a matter of enforcing this on kiters. It may come down to when someone gets rescued and doesn't have all the safety gear on them, they could be looking at having to fund their own rescue plus associated fines. It's sounds like a typical government cover their butt thing.
Select to expand quotePilot Pete said..
From what I can imagine will happen, it won't be a matter of enforcing this on kiters. It may come down to when someone runs me over again and I dont have all the safety gear on me. They could be looking at having me fund my own rescue plus associated fines.
Hehe, just joking with you Pete.
I have no doubt that WAKSA represented our collective interests in these discussions, and that without that representation, the rules would have been harsher and less suitable for us. We are a very small voice as far as water users go.
So I'd actually like to thank WAKSA for doing that for us. And for doing this as volunteers. Being a volunteer is often a thankless task, but some of us really do appreciate the effort you make.
For those that think they can do better, it is always possible for you to volunteer your time and effort, and make things even better.
But for now, thanks WAKSA, for the effort you have made.
No one will enforce it. So no big deal.
I met someone a few years back who works for the swan river authority who was pissed off with kiters at leighton because they kited where he liked to surf. He told me he would try to enforce this just to annoy kitesurfers. Looks like he succeeded.
Select to expand quotelukekiter said...
From what I can imagine will happen, it won't be a matter of enforcing this on kiters. It may come down to when someone gets rescued and doesn't have all the safety gear on them, they could be looking at having to fund their own rescue plus associated fines. It's sounds like a typical government cover their butt thing.
Spot on..
Next we will need a license to kite because otherwise you cannot fine or anything for breaking these laws.
You are only allowed to be asked for ID if you are under arrest.
these new laws are kind of pointless as who goes more than 400 meters out anyway? When your that far out it is almost impossible for anyone on the beach to tell exactly what sort of back mobe blind pass handle judge you have done and they definitely can't tell what sort of boardies you have on over your wetsuit or what sort of hat your wearing so whats the point really
Select to expand quoteok said...
Next we will need a license to kite because otherwise you cannot fine or anything for breaking these laws.
We almost do it's called insurance, you are crazy if u don't have it.
Select to expand quoteTrapped said..
Sure you western aus guys have better wind, but at least here on the east we don't have to wear a life jacket.
Yep we do if "you are out past 400m and kiting alone"
Guys,
I think everyone has missed a very important word in the legislation - AVERAGE - in the WAKSA message above
You are required to wear a PDF, carry EPIRBs and flares, if your position averages more than 400m from shore.
Even if you go out 800m [which is unlikely], to tack upwind at your wave spot, your average still remains under 400m, especially given the time spent riding in the waves. I think this affect very few, except those crazies who are still seen out kiting on the Offshore reefs 5kms off Scarboro at dusk.
My personnal phiilosphy based on some long lonely scary swims in the distant past remains......... " never kite out farther than you want to swim back in, because sooner or later you will have to."
If you have a penchant for moonlit sessions on far offshore reefs then I think it might just be sensible to wear a PDF, carry EPIRBs and flares, not because anyone will arrest you [who would bother] , but because one day those things will save your life! Alternatively start training for the Rottnest swim.
Big deal - only the lawnmowers/kooks are out further than a couple hundred down at City's and Brighton - if anything it's only being rolled out for their own saftey in the event that things turn pear shaped fast.
"Sure you western aus guys have better wind, but at least here on the east we don't have to wear a life jacket." lol
"who was pissed off with kiters at leighton because they kited where he liked to surf" perth surf... legit! what a loser.. lol
how come suddenly there is a law without any mention on here first to help kiters be ready to do submissions - good representation, not..
Very short sighted not to take into account wave ridering kiters 400m+ out to sea kiting reefs - kind of selfish.
Any downed inflatable kite is basically a perfect life raft with a sail to get you home. Does my kite count as a PFD or do I need to sew shoulder straps onto it??
For a secondary PFD (or in case I’m carrying an additional person) I’m willing to bolt shoulder straps onto my surfboard as well.
