Hi guys
yes, I admit I am primarily a windsurfer and therefore will likely be either ignored, red thumbed or trolled for saying this, but...
this morning was great wind at Toowoon, but I noticed and it was commented on by the clubbies that two or three kiters both launched very close to the flagged area and then continued to sail through the flagged area about 60 metres offshore.
please, if this is you come down the beach, if it is your mate encourage them to come down the beach away from the flagged area.
It would be a shame to lose access to this place because of poor etiquette.
And guys, it is poor etiquette not to mention dangerous.
Have a merry Christmas.
Select to expand quotebarbarian said..
Hi guys
yes, I admit I am primarily a windsurfer and therefore will likely be either ignored, red thumbed or trolled for saying this, but...
this morning was great wind at Toowoon, but I noticed and it was commented on by the clubbies that two or three kiters both launched very close to the flagged area and then continued to sail through the flagged area about 60 metres offshore.
please, if this is you come down the beach, if it is your mate encourage them to come down the beach away from the flagged area.
It would be a shame to lose access to this place because of poor etiquette.
And guys, it is poor etiquette not to mention dangerous.
Have a merry Christmas.
I thought it was legal to kitesurf past the flags if your 60 meters off the beach? Am sure I read it somewhere.
Am sure someone can correct me if I am wrong.
Been to this beach a couple of times and saw most of the locals launching there kites close to the flags ,as there is limited space on a southerly.
The kites and clubbier seem to have a good relationship from what I could see?
And I believe you need to stay 30 meters away from swimmers and surfers outside of the flagged area.
I understand what your saying barbarian, a lot of kite surfers have no idea of there legal limitations as we are classed as a vessel.
Have never seen anything here on seabreeze regarding the legal space you need to keep, as I looked it up years ago and maybe it has now changed?
Lots of kiters don't realise they are too close to flags, especially on the upwind side with kite towards them. At Lennox Head it seems like every other session some guy is crashing his kite upwind of the flags and then getting dragged almost all the way through them or just out the back... not a good look for kiters or our spot but people continue to show up and do it for some reason.
Select to expand quotewdric said..
I think it is like about 200m offshore ;)
I will believe that when I see it in writing.
Does anybody know for sure how far out you need to be?
Time to look that one up again.
Select to expand quotewdric said..
I think it is like about 200m offshore ;)
Just looked up some info .
Flagged swimming area 60 meters as I thought.
designated surf zone 500 meters.
I think the surf zone means crowded surfing area.
Got the info from KBA.
Going by this report"A designated swimming area in a surf zone is defined as the area extending 500 metres out from shore between surf patrol flags or signs. In all other areas a swimming area is defined as the area extending 60 metres out from shore between signs for swimmers"
So at the beach is is 500m, but in other waterways that have designated swim zones it is only 60m
So how many kiters have you seen come withing 10m of swimmers!
www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Kitesurfing/Kiting-on-crowded-beaches_4577390.aspx
Select to expand quotewdric said..
Going by this report"A designated swimming area in a surf zone is defined as the area extending 500 metres out from shore between surf patrol flags or signs. In all other areas a swimming area is defined as the area extending 60 metres out from shore between signs for swimmers"
So at the beach is is 500m, but in other waterways that have designated swim zones it is only 60m
So how many kiters have you seen come withing 10m of swimmers!
www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Kitesurfing/Kiting-on-crowded-beaches_4577390.aspx
Wow ! that puts every kiter in the wrong from what I see .
Looks like the lifeguards give us a lot of slack.
Although where I kite you can't get out the back unless your 200 meters from the flags.
I can't for the life of me understand why the rules are different in this country from state to state.
It seems that in NSW a kiteboard is classed as a vessel (maybe the case in other states as well, haven't checked yet), whereas in QLD a kite and kiteboard is still classed as a water toy.
Most of your questions regarding NSW rules and regs are answered here vvv
www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/safety-rules/other-boating/sailboarding-kitesurfing.html
Why can't there just be one set of rules across the board for the whole country 
Would make things a whole lot easier when traveling interstate to discover new spots, as most of us do......
Hang on.........that would make sense, what am I thinking
Interesting reading, I was doing a learn to surf class at Toowoon on Monday morning just outside the no board rider signs next to the flags, Monday was a professional life guard day.
The clubbies came down with their I.R.B (inflatable rescue boat) and proceeded to give some school kids joy rides, passing my learn to surf group by less than 10metres which then put them within the required 60m to the side of the flags, then they proceeded straight through the flags about 50m from shore, that is 3 waterways laws broken in seconds, and not following their own rules of " I.R.B. training signs" not placed where they were launching from the beach several times over.
The same professional lifeguards that allowed the clubbies to continually go through the flags are the same ones who commented about kiteboarders/windsurfers going through the flags on a day of 25knt winds with next to no one at the beach.
So basically it depends on the mood of the lifeguards/clubbies on what rules to follow and who has to follow them.
But launching kites directly between the flags (which I have seen at Toowoon by very experienced riders do) will not help the wind orientated community, if in doubt go ask who ever is on patrol and see how flexible they can be.
Santa, please bring some winds and waves.
