Sailing on the river regularly and now also owning a reasonably large vessel (10m), my only advice would be DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING with power boaters. Forget right of way, power gives way to sail etc, yes most boaties do know this and generally apply some common sense, the ones that will hit you do not and more often don't know the rules or just ignore them or are just plainly demented - like the guy in the 18foot power boat that drove at 25knots straight through the kiters and beginners at Peli a few weeks back in the shallows at no more than a metre deep. Unbelievable he did not kill anyone or hit the sandbank.
I've driven my boat from the City back down river to Nedlands on a really windy day and funnily enough, went straight past Neil on the way and waved ! Driving back into the sun it is glarey and I must admit, it WAS harder to see than I expected which surprised me, even with polarised sunnies AND looking out for sailors knowing they were there. Also, at any speed over 15-20 knots, I noticed that the ability to react quickly on the boat was less. The boats covering a fair bit of ground at that pace.
So my take away is NEVER assume anything about what any boatie is going to do, can or can't see or has any knowledge of the rules or just pure common sense. Unfortunately that doesn't always mean accidents won't happen.
Sorry to hear that, wishing Neil a speedy and complete recovery.
Windsurfers must realize that boaters may not know that windsurfers have the right of way. It is quite possible that the boaters thought they were doing exactly what they were supposed to do when the accidents occurred, and that they though the windsurfer was at fault. Some of the blame can be assigned to the Department of Transportation. Check their "Boating Rules at a Glance" (www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC_B_BoatingRulesAtAGlance.pdf):
There is nothing stating that sail boats and windsurfers have right of way in the brochure! The only mentioning of sail boats is in the overtaking section (".. the sailing boat must keep out of the way.."). The more detailed section at www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/rules-of-the-road.asp also is marginally better in this regard, but you have to expand the "When power meets sail" section to see the actual rules.
I have actually seen an experienced windsurfing instructor insist that the "right before left" rule applies on the water. He happened to have an advanced (commercial) boating license, and did not fully understand the differences as they apply to "power meets sail" and "sail meets sail" situations, and was very surprised about the "starboard before port" and same-tack rules. So I would certainly expect a lot of boaters who never sailed or windsurfed to also not understand the right of way rules correctly!
I was about to bear off on a portside speed run at Coodanup. There was a couple of blokes in a tinny heading straight into the wind. They were both looking straight ahead and I reckon there was plenty of wind noise and outboard noise so they had no idea I was heading for them. I slipped around behind them and I know they never noticed me at any stage.
I think that in shipping channels commercial has right of way
where is pelican point
speedy recovery
Hope he has a speedy recovery. I don't think the speed limit needs to change in boating channels, I think we need to keep wind sports OUT of boating channels. There is plenty of water space without having to use boating channels.
I hope the best for your Dad.
Accidents , that should not happen are terrible.
Like the photo with the smile .
Best wishes for a speedy recovery from Tasmania Neil.
With 45 years experience on the water in dinghy, big yacht, One Design Windsurfer, Wavesailing in addition to having, skippered boats in the Mediterranean and owned a trailer boat capable of over 50 Knots. I have seen some of the most
appalling lack of seamanship imaginable. Resulting with collisions, near misses and multiple loss of life.
The culprits predominantly are small powerboat, and PWC operators who either are unlicensed, forgotten navigational rules, just plainly unintelligent and most disturbingly deliberately ignore the rules taking the view "Might Has Right"
Not knowing the circumstances of Neil's incident I can't comment directly. However I believe no amount of regulation will cure low intelligence, stupidity or incompetence. Addopting the assumption that motor boats may not give way particularly tinnies, runabouts, PWC's and Gin Pallaces, always anticipate the possibility of having to take evasive action to avoid a collision. I have had to do this in all of the craft I have used over the years having avoided collisions.
I hope my thoughts provide a little clarity.
Select to expand quotelotofwind said..
Hope he has a speedy recovery. I don't think the speed limit needs to change in boating channels, I think we need to keep wind sports OUT of boating channels. There is plenty of water space without having to use boating channels.
Where are you again, up near Coffs or something? Plenty of open water up there? I have never sailed Pelican Point, but there are only so many easily accessible places to sail on the river in Perth. I have sailed the other side, which I think is much safer, but the wind has a bit of a shadow on that side.
It sounds like Pelican point gets a lot of kiters, windsurfers, and boating traffic. At least the kiters stick to the footpaths 
Select to expand quotelotofwind said.. Hope he has a speedy recovery. I don't think the speed limit needs to change in boating channels, I think we need to keep wind sports OUT of boating channels. There is plenty of water space without having to use boating channels.
Are you serious?You're the bloke who just posted in another thread that the rules are outdated and as nobody knows them in your little part of the world so we should just ignore them
That pretty much rules your views as completely invalid on anything to do with ROW I reckon.
FYI there is channel within a couple hundred meters or less, in all directions from Pelican Pt, so you simply have to cross it.
Terrible news....all the best Neil and I hope that your recovery isn't too long or too painful. Two similar accidents in such a short time is very concerning. It makes us all think about safety and hopefully reminds us all to be vigilant and conservative when around boats of any sort. I always try to keep well clear of yachts and especially power boats, but (like in Pete's case) it's the one you don't see that will get you.
Stay safe guys and gals....
Nic, my very best wishes to your Dad and the whole family for his full recovery, Neil is a living legend of windsurfing - and thank god for 1st world medical care!
Is this whole water safety issue getting worse?? My Summer has included 2 nasty incidents on Melb Bay - a speed boat mowed me down, miraculously only gear damage, very decent guy just failed completely with Nautical Rule #1 = "keep a proper lookout" - plus 2 jetskis lined me up as target practice
BTW both times I was foiling, which can make it even harder/slower to take evasive action....
And both times out alone .... we are safer in a peloton ... ????
I visited Neil in Hospital today - the main concern right now is stabilising any potential infection- its ok at the moment.
so please everyone out there touch everything wooden that you see for the next few days.
After that it is a case of rebuilding his leg.
He continues to be in good spirits and has definitely felt the love and concern out there for him. Its really helped!
So thanks everyone.
- Neil did an interview today with one of the News Channels - it may have been 7.
They are doing a story tonight. (apparently)
It will be interesting to see how they choose to spin the story...
I sent the channel 7 woman this afternoon a few pics of me in hospital including one close up pic of my gruesome looking knee.
She said clip of Neil is 1 min 10 seconds long.
Select to expand quotekato said..
Can someone post the link latter
thewest.com.au/news/swan-river/windsurfer-calls-for-swan-river-speed-limits-after-power-boat-collision-ng-b881141096z
twitter.com/7NewsPerth/status/1107948733231038464
Full news report - Start at 4.03 mark;
7plus.com.au/seven-news-perth
Neil is going to be out of action for sometime. I have no idea how to set up a go fund me page but am happy to contribute.
Hey everyone,
Thank you all so much for the support you have given Dad over the last few days. The Aus windsurfing community's response has been nothing short of amazing.
As you can see from the video above, he is in high spirits, but is still at high risk of infection (from the river entering his deep tissue).
He'll be spending the next 7-10 days in hospital to rest, recover, and fight away all the risks. He has loved the hoards of visitors streaming to his bed, but going forward will need space to rest.
If you would like to visit, please do so when he is out of hospital and recovering at home (you can message here and I will help arrange a time). It will help him when he is out of the danger zone and on the long road to recovery.
For now, my focus will be on dad's recovery, and pushing for higher awareness & education, as well as potential legislation changes for recreational vessel usage on the swan river.
Thanks,
Nic
Select to expand quoteFez said..
Mark, not always. If a sailing boat/windsurfer etc is overtaking a motor boat then the sailing boat/windsurfer must give way to the motor boat!
I always give way to power boats.
Who has right of way is academic if they are not even at the wheel, and some of the time they are not.
Yep, Im with you EvlPanda, when I cross the boaties channels up the goldie I have a damn good look before crossing, and if boats near by(which there always is there) my eye is on them cause we all know that everyone dosent know or follow rules.
Like what the Collision Regulations above states,
you must keep a good look out and be ready to give way to other vessels if necessary.
But we are all guilty of being off in our own little world sometimes and not keeping a good look out, like in all these windsurfers getting hit by boats while crossing the boat lane say they didn't even see the boat, and the boaties looking straight ahead, same as the windsurfers obviously must have been and not looking sideways ready to give way if necessary.
And before Markie starts popping a vein in his head and starts yelling lol, Im not saying who is at fault, but saying we must be aware of what is around us and be ready to avoid collisions.
^^ You almost made some reasonable points and didn't sound like a complete flog, well done!
One problem with the swan river is that it isn't just a narrow boat channel but rather a broader area with some rather fast vessels. On top of that you have windsurfers going quickly at right angles to this traffic, late afternoon sun and a blind spot over the windsurfers shoulders.
I have my serious side lol
I guess that's where common sense kicks in, wide channel look more that once, be aware of your surroundings . Late arvo and cant see to avoid a collision then avoid that last few hours at that spot. Is that what happened with these windsurfers that got hit, they couldn't see what was coming down the boating channel before they crossed it because of the sun? There hasn't really been any details other than they didn't even see the boat till they collided .
You then have a boat driver who is obliged to give way to sailing craft, with the sun on their back, with what should be a clear view of a sailing craft approaching them. But yes, everyone should be alert and avoiding collisions.
The thing with windsurfers is also the sail, they do have windows, but are often scratched, covered in salt and hard to see through. So there's a significant blind spot. It takes a conscious effort to check whats behind it.
Agreed, but that will never happen 100% of the time, people get distracted etc.
I know I wouldn't be crossing it blinded by the sun to whats coming, depending on some boatie to be 100% on his game quickly scanning left and right for fast moving vessels , but I guess it would class windsurfing as an extreme sport at that hour of the day lol.
It would feel like walking across the highway wearing a blind fold assuming that all the cars are 100% focused and will obey the rule of give way to pedestrians. Scary
Select to expand quotewindsufering said..
I think that in shipping channels commercial has right of way
where is pelican point
speedy recovery
I don't think that applies just to commercial vessels. I think a power vessel with restricted manoeuvring ie in a channel, has right of way over a sailing vessel crossing the channel.
Lotofwinds example of the broadwater channels on the GC would be an occasion where windsurfers crossing the channel would be obligated to give way to power
For non-locals, Melville Water on the Swan River is probably one of the most-most windsurfed spots on the planet, and has been for decades. The waters between Pelican Point and South of Perth YC on the other side are pretty much the best spot on the river as the long fetch provides steadier breezes and the biggish chop tends to line up into long troughs which are fun and easy to speed over at well over 30 knots.
Unfortunately windsurfing here also puts you on a course which is 90 degrees to the direction that most boats are going. If the boats are either big, or coming from upwind, they are pretty easy spot, the danger is from small boats heading into the breeze and coming from behind your sail - I have been mowed down by one myself many years ago. Thankfully I wasn't hurt but my harness got slashed, so it was close.
Not sure what the answer is - I tend to sail later in the day when there is less traffic on the water and the breeze is often better, but in saying that the glare can make visibility terrible.
Anyway Neil, can't wait to see you out there again!
