Select to expand quoteniall barrett said..
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.
Well spotted Niall, however the words "Average distance" only appears on the WAKSA website, the actual regulation and the official notice put out by the DT says:-
"Between 400 metres and 2 nautical miles from shore in unprotected waters a lifejacket and an in date inshore distress flare kit or a registered EPIRB/personal locator beacon (PLB) must be carried.."
The DPI also mention that these rules come into effect from 1 August, and they go on to say that it is
?Endorsed by the WA Kite Surfing Association and Windsurfing Western Australia following extensive consultation"
WAKSA and the DT need to be on the same page, and as WAKSA is only run be volunteers and has no legal power then we have to go by what the DT says, at least maybe until WAKSA can do some extensive consultation and get the rules change to reflect a workable regulation.
For safety's sake and due diligence.. we HAVE to ensure this notice makes it out across the globe. Especially to our fellow kiters in Europe, who are thinking of coming to kite in WA this summer.
Select to expand quotedefault said..
For safety's sake and due diligence.. we HAVE to ensure this notice makes it out across the globe. Especially to our fellow kiters in Europe who want to come kite in WA this summer.default said..
For safety's sake and due diligence.. we HAVE to ensure this notice makes it out across the globe. Especially to our fellow kiters in Europe who want to come kite in WA this summer.
Good idea.
And can all those chanting 'I can surf and wear what I like, dude, and The Man ain't taking that away from me' please get off the bong, away from the car park and panel van barracades, and think about common sense.
More race kiters are heading offshore to get away from the shorebreak lawnmowing crowd, so only really affects the ones playing with the bulk carriers in Gage Roads - and perhaps those few doing anydownwinders that sometimes head beyond the general shorebreak-400m line of lawnmowers.
There's going to be a year-long education period, a year of warnings and fines won't come in until after that, apparently.
Select to expand quotembuckley said..
...do you really want to be breaking the law every time you pass that invisible 400m line? As discussed in the previous thread, 400m is not a long distance for kiting, self rescuing, or swimming.
Every day I drive, I see people on phones, speeding, tailgating, running red lights etc etc. And thats endangering others, not yourself!
From an everyday punter point of view, I think it's a silly idea, but I do understand how it can get to this point. Life isn't as simple as it was 20 years ago.
This sh1t has come to NSW as well. Though thankfully no need for flares or EPIRB:
www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html
Yeh I love the idea of carrying an explosive device around with me.... well thought through guys....
Its awesome when a flare goes off into you when you crash real hard.
How come no one came here to give people here a chance to make individual submissions?
It is wrong in every way to create a law where so many will be breaking it regardless if someone thinks it will be enforced, that is simply because some fwit/ corporation.. whatever in the future will use it against kiters no doubt to accomplish their own means. I am of course talking about kiting waves beyond 400m out... for starters...
My two cents worth after kiting for 12 years and surfing for 40 both in WA and QLD
Like all new rules and laws , they can be challenged if they are considered to endanger lives , carrying a explosive ( Flares) on your body I'm sure relates highly as dangerous , haven't had a had alook at flares lately but I'm sure that the instructions would say keep away from your body some where.
Obviously there have been some incidents that have happened over the last few years now that kiting is ever more popular , and the so called safety gurus that have no idea what kiting and / windsurfing is about have come up with this brilliant plan , not
No use everyone stressing about it look at the new laws ,if the majority of the people concerned (kiters/windsurfers) challenge it while it's in the early introduction phase and come up with new ways to ensure the safety of the kiters that the F wits in government can understand ,
I like the 'average' statement WAKSA has on their page.Unfortunately DPI do not mention any average of 400M or more.
If a kite or wind surfer is between 400 metres and two nautical miles from shore they now require a lifejacket and can chose to carry either red and orange flares or an Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/MAC_P_Kite_surfing_safety_equip.pdf
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/life-jackets.asp
pfd type3 is the minimum standard. then its an epirb or plb
not sure if there is an app on your phone (with a water proof cover) for the plb 
These rules sound like Belgian origin.
However Belgium has additionally alcohol testing on the beach - that's still missing.
Due to these regulations and a limit of 28 knots of wind most Belgians kitesurf in The Netherlands.
So now that we're recognized as vessels by the DOT, does this mean all kiters in WA are going to need to have a recreational skippers ticket?
Only if your outboard is over 4 horse power, I do have a problem with the mounts on mine, even though my board is only rated for a max of 150 horses, I'm currently running a 200 mercury. : P
just jumped on the breeze after a bit of a period away and got a bit of a surprise from this thread and a few others relating to it. once i'd had a chance to digest, i'd realised this isn't that big a deal imo, but something worth considering over the next year or 2 in terms of gear, modifying my kit and depending on what type of kiting i'm doing in the future.
the vitriol towards waksa, DoT and others just doing what they think is best sucks to read (considering that most kiters are in effect a well educated middle-age demographic), but then again, this is an internet forum (and i suppose most kiters are grumpy middle agers too haha).
i have kited heaps of offshore spots, both south and north, but it's rarer then my usual sessions where 400m tacks or around the shark buoys is pretty bang on for where i head out to. i'm sure the usual crew at the offshore spots will just stay under the radar, do what they've been doing for a decade without calling attention to themselves - and noone at DoT will be the wiser. so breathe easy.
someone also hit the nail that the gov guys in transport are so under resourced anyways that it is hard enough to be checking vessels at the ramps all the time, so if you seriously think they will be out chasing kiters for going out 1km without a flare or pfd then just go ahead and take another deep breath.
i agree with another comment, that you are only likely to be pinged with a fine in future if you are rescued for example out past the channel markers, and don't have the relevant gear. im even sure that boaties railed against alot of the relatively new epirb and flare laws a couple of decades ago when they came in... but we are seeing the difference this education and legislation has made in recent rescues in WA.
so, my take on it is that if highlighting this legislation and educating / enforcing it over the next few years helps NEW kiters, that havent been kiting hells gates for half a decade already understand the risks and what might be either some worthy precautions, or just to reconsider whether they're ready, then this is probably a good thing. old kiters keep doing the risk assessments you subconciously have done a thousand times over, and if one day you say, "nah, f@rk it, i think i will take a flare or 2 out behind the island this year" or "this harness with built in pfd mightactually come in handy" then good luck to you and i hope you never use em.
finally, i just wanted to take the time to remind of a tragedy up near coros close to 2 years ago (RIP), that is a timely reminder of both the risks and the epicness of this past time we do. a gentleman of the sea died at 70 from drowning after things went wrong offshore. i'm not saying any of the new legislation is applicable to potentially averting this tragedy - however none of us can bury our heads in the sand and not acknowledge that things can go very very wrong at there, and for most of us will at some time, and if you are going to pay the price it is better to prepare for the worst. i know i've had my share of lucky dodges and will continue to way up my safety equipment versus fun factor as time goes on.
for those who don't recall:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Man-dead-kite-surfing-20-km-north-Geraldton/
again - R.I.P.
looking forward to some good winds for all.
View from abroad for what its worth : as I stare out at usual onsure slop I can only dream of what my emotions would be to get out beyond 400m, let alone pass shark bouys - checking the date on my flares would be the least of worries.
Having a rescue service available anywhere is awesome, as are the crews - particularly if volunteers. They want to save, not kill joy, and asking those putting themselves at risk to take some precaution is common sense and respect. Not sure the right kit in terms of vests and flares etc is available for kiters yet, perhaps rules like yours will move it forward to the good of all.
We all know that in kiting its not a question of "if" but "when" trouble will strike. If you are not prepared to take basic precautions and help rescuers help you, then are you also prepared to say "Im not bothering, and dont you bother to come get me either".
Hopefully someone will offer cheap, universal and non cumberson equipment solutions that will make this a no-brainer.
