Jetskis in Surf at Long Reef - Maritime Response

What do you all think of the below response from Roads and Maritime about this video complaint of Jetski's in the surf at Long Reef.

If any of you regular paddlers and surfer's have noticed the same bunch of PWC riders have turned up there this year going out most weekends - I would encourage you to document further and send to Maritime. Likewise don't be shy of telling them where to go directly. I've had direct confrontations with them where things were not only plain dangerous (jumping and landing within meters) to just plain annoying by riding and ruining every wave that comes through. The response to our heated discussion was "beach rules don't apply out here in the ocean" after which he proceeded to try and run me off a wave I was surfing (within inches).

Got no problem if no one else is out, but these spots are surfed and sup'ed regularly and these guys have no idea and absolutely zero respect for others.

Here's the email response to the video complaint sent in. (At the end of the vid a second guy comes in as well)


<div>Thank you for the report regarding PWC operators at Long Reef.

I have viewed the footage provided and except for one and possibly two occasions when a PWC operator was within 60 meters of paddling surfers, there appears to be nothing the PWC operators are doing which could be regarded as breaches of rules. If a Boating Safety Officer observed the behaviour shown they would likely warn the PWC operators about the surfers presence and suggest ways to lessen the impact on paddling surfers – performing circuits, heading out wide then in through the surf so there’s no chance of wave jumping onto surfers etc.

A PWC operator is entitled to operate in the surf unless engaged in towing-in activities where paddle surfers are present so PWC’s, surfers and paddle boarders will from time to time all be operating at the one break. Regardless of this, it is apparent that PWC operators in the line-up would be a concern to surfers who have to rely on the operator of a high speed PWC knowing the rules and adhering to them.

As Roads and Maritime Boating Safety Officers also patrol using PWC’s and have a mobile safety and compliance team, the information you have provided will be forwarded to them so patrols of the area can be scheduled so once again, thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.

Sincerely

<div>Mark Raward
Boating Safety Officer

<div>
<div>
<div>Roads and Maritime Services
<div>www.rms.nsw.gov.au
<div>Every journey matters

Yeah 60m is a bit of a joke just too close , it's 400m from flagged areas on the beach patrols should be that everywhere.

He needs a punch in the face.

Def closer than 60m, and not sure what the layout of this break is, but I thought the speed limit was 5 knots within 200m of the shoreline?

Had a good go at a couple of jetskiiers up north last summer. Lets just say all the prone surfers in the lineup developed a fair bit of respect for me pretty quickly too.

JetSking down a wave face, I just have to ask why??...what they are doing is dangerous but most jet skiers unfortunately don't have much up top.. Most are like 17 year olds that have just gotten their licence and first car and are trying to impress their friends....

From the video the single jetski rider seem very aware of the surfers in the water and the few times a surfer catches a wave he clears out of your way very quickly. When its only one ski in the video the rider keeps well clear and seems to understand the rules. The second jetski rider however hasn't got a clue and almost collides with the first jetski rider at one point.

Locally they only have a very short attention span, a few minutes of that horrible noise and smell and then they are off to show off somewhere else.

If you just keep reporting their HIN to Roads and Maritime Services they will eventually get a home visit especially if they get a whole bunch of reports from different surfers over one weekend. Tuck a wax pencil in your key pocket of your wetsuit and write their HIN on your board, encourage others to do the same.

Squeaky wheel gets the oil and everyone hates jetski operators

After surfing on the northern beaches for a number of years its just now so populated that room for everyone is becoming an issue. After viewing the footage I think that on the main, the jetski are trying to not hit any surfers, however they do get close at times. I have never actually ridden a jetski or have friends who do.
I am constantly suprised how busy the beaches around here are at curl curl their will be between 20-50 guys out in flat to small waves with only 5 to 6 peaks.
Longreef has always been a place to go for kiteboarders and people looking to get some space. Jet skiis use to go to collaroy and launch out there so I think they have been around long reef off and on for about 5-10 years. Now there are too many sup riders out at collaroy.
On the jetski front I have been up the north coast when people come around for tow in practice and it is horrible. Very loud and the petrol stinks and lingers for ages.
I feel for your situation.

Select to expand quote

NNSUP said..
I didn't even bother to view the footage. These guys are out there every saturday morning which is fine if no one is around, however, quite often there have been 10 or so of us out there training for an hour before they even turn up. We are then buzzed at more like 20 metres than 60. Last time they couldn't here what i was politely saying but I think they got the idea pretty quickly as they left shortly after.

I think this may have esculated a little since this post... in our favour.

You were training???

I tried to explain to them at the boat ramp that butterbox has been a surfbreak since there has been surfing and therefore surfers should probably be allowed to surf it unmolested by jet skis if we are out there. They seemed arrogant and told me we all have to "share" the ocean. I don't understand why they didn't cruise around at makaha that day. They don't need quality surf and no surfers=better for jet skiers right?

As Johnny said, they are out there most Saturdays although the cold winter offshores seem to of turn them off for the last couple. This video shows one instance with 2 jetskis. I have been out there surfing on my own and "5" have come out! Imagine that - its like they are constantly circling you. The noise and smell is unbearable. It is so sad that they have destroyed one of the few places you can go to for a bit of peace and quiet on the Northern Beaches - as everyone knows - it just becomes a zoo on a Saturday...
Hopefully maritime will look at it before the confrontations escalate...

Great moments in jet skis part # 209

http://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2016/06/27/jet-ski-carnage-wedge-video

Just when you think jet ski drivers are actually quite harmless folk, that despite the public image they're just out for a lark on the water like you and me, comes a video to remind us that, no, they really are dickheads.


www.ocregister.com/articles/couple-720630-ski-jet.html

It's so nice that us Suppers have someone to talk badly about!!! I've been feeling so sad being at the bottom of the food chain...

Jetskis don't belong in a line-up if there's surfers in the water. Surely there is another break nearby that will still meet there needs.
It could be any junk wave going by the footage in that clip (not saying the wave is junk...but the sections the jetskis were hitting).

I've seen and heard about kitesurfers and sailboarders who break every rule in the book almost every time they get on the water.
But they aren't noisy and don't stink......

Bloody trail bikes of the sea ! I had one run over me in maroochydore river mouth riderless non the less , idiot came off on a wave and ski skimmed along right over the top of me lucky no damage to board as I said to the other boys out what would of happend if it knocked me out also the noise and smell is a joke I am out to enjoy nature not listen to bloody twits with no skill riding machines to substitute for other inadequacies. #cantbloodystandthem

Select to expand quote

jbshack said..
I don't understand what makes people think they have right of way over anyone else and their chosen sport

As long as they are abiding by the rules then i don't see why anyone would say they must leave, simply because you find them noisy, smelly or offensive

Who is to say they don't have the right of way, and the surfers, suppers are getting in their space, taking all the good waves

The same could be said for fisherman complaint about surfers entering the water and effecting their chosen fishing spot, swimmers complain about boogers, boogers complain about surfers, surfers complain about long boarders, long boarders complain about sups, sups complain about jet skis, fishermen complain about everyone else

Its a shared zone, deal with it..

I agree with this..no one owns the ocean and all.

So much faux outrage and selfish posts in this thread. I ride a jet ski..and it is great fun in waves but SUP'ers moan and cry like little babies all the time.

Select to expand quote

husq2100 said..

burleighlocal said..

jbshack said..
I don't understand what makes people think they have right of way over anyone else and their chosen sport

As long as they are abiding by the rules then i don't see why anyone would say they must leave, simply because you find them noisy, smelly or offensive

Who is to say they don't have the right of way, and the surfers, suppers are getting in their space, taking all the good waves

The same could be said for fisherman complaint about surfers entering the water and effecting their chosen fishing spot, swimmers complain about boogers, boogers complain about surfers, surfers complain about long boarders, long boarders complain about sups, sups complain about jet skis, fishermen complain about everyone else

Its a shared zone, deal with it..

I agree with this..no one owns the ocean and all.

So much faux outrage and selfish posts in this thread. I ride a jet ski..and it is great fun in waves but SUP'ers moan and cry like little babies all the time.

does that mean we are welcome at Burleigh

of course not

Select to expand quote

Piros said..
It's the inconsiderate jet ski riders that have no clue what their wake does to a wave is the problem. When they stay the 40m away driving up and down behind the back break wrecks every wave for the surfers.Then you get the guys towing and jumping off on sub 4 foot waves amongst prone surfers , is just lack of respect for others who are paddling in. The general rule where I live if guys are paddling in you go somewhere else. Unfortunately some guys just don't give a f**k and these are the ones that cause all this angst. So saying no one owns the ocean and deal with is just bullsh!t.

Just be respectful and everyone can enjoy the experience.

Well no one owns the ocean so i guess you have to deal with it.

I was surfing a offshore reef once (On my jet ski, Wave Blaster) riding waves and having a ball when a boat with surfers turned up. They had no issue and we shared waves. Then another boat turned up and eventually i was sharing the waves with about ten surfers. Everyone having fun. Then finally one more boat turned up and he and his mate had a major issue with me and went ballistic telling me i had to leave, well considering id been there for a few hours, well before anyone else what gave them the right to tell me to move on

Oh and before you ask yes i was riding the waves, actually managed my first barrel that day, to much hooting and hollering from the surfers in the water