Forums > Windsurfing   New South Wales

Botany Bay Draft Boating Safety Plan

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Created by DVDA > 9 months ago, 25 Aug 2012
DVDA
NSW, 24 posts
25 Aug 2012 2:10PM
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May be of interest to some.

www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html

CaptainHadoc
NSW, 128 posts
27 Aug 2012 1:17PM
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From a non-english person. Where do we windsurfer fall in? Personal watercraft?

FormulaNova
WA, 15086 posts
27 Aug 2012 12:53PM
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No, in that document, personal watercraft seem to be only jetskis as the comments about them all seem to imply that. I think windsurfers 'might' fit into the non-powered vessel category.

"wind, surfers" are mentioned in the text, as well as kitesurfers.

I didn't read it completely, but it describes kitesurfers as needing to learn the right-of-way rules.

I don't know if it really makes any distinctions for windsurfing, other than suggesting that it or kitesurfing are popular in some spots.

BenKirk
NSW, 600 posts
27 Aug 2012 3:31PM
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Huge sweeping statements!

"A large number of kitesurfers are operating in the vicinity of small sailing craft. Kitesurfers become caught in powerlines and trees. These users need to be separated by zoning given both types of craft are difficult to handle, particularly on windy days."

or

"Develop an education package, aimed at kitesurfers, which explains rights-of-way and promotes courtesy towards other users."

Clearly Kiters/Windsurfers are not sailing in a harmonious way within Botany Bay. Apart from a few drop ins, I haven't found kiters to be bad around the reef breaks of the Northern Beaches or at Wanda. Maybe it's a learner/beginner issue.

stehsegler
WA, 3549 posts
27 Aug 2012 2:23PM
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BenKirk said...

Huge sweeping statements!

"A large number of kitesurfers are operating in the vicinity of small sailing craft. Kitesurfers become caught in powerlines and trees. These users need to be separated by zoning given both types of craft are difficult to handle, particularly on windy days."


I think this document is squarely aimed at jet skis and power boats and in response to accidents / near accidents and subsequent complaints that happened last summer.


Clearly Kiters/Windsurfers are not sailing in a harmonious way within Botany Bay.

Quite the contrary. Kiters stick to a certain stretch of beach. Windsurfers to another. The only time kiteboarders and windsurfers are sharing a beach is in a strong SSW. Those mainly happen in winter and the number of people on the water is so small that I haven't seen any issues.

Apart from a few drop ins, I haven't found kiters to be bad around the reef breaks of the Northern Beaches or at Wanda.

The biggest issue with kite boards at Wanda is that they seem to have no respect for the flagged area. I wouldn't be surprised if they one day ban kiteboarding at that beach for that reason.

I seem to remember that NSWWavesailing had a meeting with the Surf Club a few years back to discuss the issue.

As for the Northern Beaches... I wish there would be more people out on the water (kite boarders or windsurfers). Most days during the week it can get quite lonely out at Makaha and Long Reef.

CaptainHadoc
NSW, 128 posts
27 Aug 2012 4:49PM
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"A large number of kitesurfers are operating in the vicinity of small sailing craft. Kitesurfers become caught in powerlines and trees. These users need to be separated by zoning given both types of craft are difficult to handle, particularly on windy days."

I think it would be fair to mention that this is a quote from the submission (Commodore, Kurnell, Catamaran Club), not a statement of the Report.... .

As so, it is clearly oriented. I'm sure the jet-ski league, if any, would be also complaining that "an alarming amount of poorly skilled windsurfer unable to move in straight line are clogging up the mouth of Cooks River, making the operation of powered boat in and out of the canal quite dangerous..."

Extrapolating from that statement that Windsurfing/Kitesurfing are "not sailing in a harmonious way within Botany Bay" would be quite a strech..... Not saying there's never been a problem, but from my experience it's as good as it gets in term of sharing the water.

BenKirk
NSW, 600 posts
27 Aug 2012 4:51PM
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CaptainHadoc said...

"A large number of kitesurfers are operating in the vicinity of small sailing craft. Kitesurfers become caught in powerlines and trees. These users need to be separated by zoning given both types of craft are difficult to handle, particularly on windy days."

I think it would fair to mention that this is a quote from the submission (Commodore, Kurnell, Catamaran Club), not a statement of the Report....


That would make more sense!

CaptainHadoc
NSW, 128 posts
27 Aug 2012 5:02PM
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I think this document is squarely aimed at jet skis and power boats and in response to accidents / near accidents and subsequent complaints that happened last summer.

I think so, mostly, but I was trying to understand if any part was applicable to us (apart from the exclusion zone from the airport runways and port immediate vicinity)

Anything? (speed limits?) (There's a special speed limit for foreshore drive for instance...).

stehsegler
WA, 3549 posts
28 Aug 2012 12:37PM
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CaptainHadoc said...
Anything? (speed limits?) (There's a special speed limit for foreshore drive for instance...).


from what I understand most speed limits near ports and in canals are put in place to reduce damage to embankments from water craft generated waves. Most kite and windsurf boards probably wouldn't have this issue.



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"Botany Bay Draft Boating Safety Plan" started by DVDA