You guys may remember my original post www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Lost-Found/Lost-Cabrinha-chopstix-154-twin-tip-Botany-Bay/
Well, I am happy to report that after 3 months and 13 days my board has finally come back to me!
An Italian fisherman found my board wedged under a heap of sand as it was obviously washed up. He then proceeded to advertise the sale of this board on Gumtree as he believed (and so do all other Italians) that if one finds something that has been lost at sea or beach then one may rightfully keep it and do with it as they please however, by Australian law, if you find lost property, you are expected to find the rightful owner and return the item to them but should this not happen then you are expected to hand it in to the nearest police station - Failing to do this will result in you defending yourself in front of a judge for "Theft by finding".
I had lost hope of ever seeing my board again as I had not marked it with my particulars and this made it easy for this bloke to sell it as his own.
My gratitude goes out to Pommyoyster (a member on this forum) who had discovered the board advertised on Gumtree and offered to buy it. He then did a little research on the board and came across all my lost & found notifications which came up in Google search. This brought him to Seabreeze where he was able to match the description of the board that I had left behind. He messaged me and provided me with a photo that he had recieved and "EUREKA" - I have found it!!
I'll save the details around the "Sting operation" which saw an inspector from Manly Police Station and two other officers meet the Italian chap and recover my board from him. 
I have declined to press charges against this bloke as he feels he was doing what he thought was right by "finders, keepers" and I am happy to get my board back but the police are considering whether he will be prosecuted for breaking the law. 
I would like to thank Manly Police Station for their assistance in the case (although I hope they don't prosicute him), The NSW Botany Water police for recording my loss when I called them the day after I lost my board initially, Kitepower for furnishing me with a duplicate reciept and offering assistance in identifying my board, and the kiteboarder, Pommyoyster for being vigilant enough to provide me with all of the details and helping me track this bloke down
There is a few lessons to be learnt out of this,
1) Take photos and record ALL serial numbers of your equipment
2) Custom detail on your equipment can aid in getting your property back although it could potentially devalue the product for after sale - writing my name and contact number with a permanent marker on my board will render my board useless for possible resale and see it returned to me everytime.
3) Do not take your equipment out until you have done the first two points
4) Please hand whatever property you may find to the nearest police station in the area that you have found it in - This is LAW and you will be prosecuted if you are identified as having something that does not belong to you!!
Lastly,
5) Please inform all your "foreign mates" in Australia of the law here. 
See you on the water...
Great news mate. Phone number on your board is an essential step! Glad to hear it made its way back to you.
R.
if all else fails you can always very politely ask the local fishermen if they have seen your gear wash up.... i'm sure they will only be too happy to help
Hahahaha - I would love to meet the friendly fishermen you speak of!
The fishermen I have seen at Botany squawk like seagulls when there are kiters in the water. It blows my mind to note that there is a vast section of beach at Botany that doesn't attract kiters or fishermen!
That being said, I do respect all beach goers!
