I don't doubt you at all Weta.... but she did! (With reason too, it turned out - as she had already been hit)
It's been said elsewhere -
we are very visible, we are the newest sport out there, and there have been (overly) publicised incidents, etc etc.
I'm not perfect but I try not to fly my kite over surfers, windsurfers, swimmers, walkers, etc. Just move it to the other side of the window or to 12. If I have to stop, turn around or sink, I do so - especially if they're looking nervous.
Yes, there are sailing and surf 'rules' / beach 'rights' but I agree with previous guidelines that we also have a responsibility as the newest sport out there to yield when our place is still not fully understood.Looks like you managed to have a chat later. This is so important in my opinion to alter public perception. Thanks for being responsible and a good ambassador for our sport. We really need this, because we are the newest sport, etc etc.
In retrospect, I think she needed
reassurance, not being told to swim elsewhere.
Anyway, hope you won't have to do 'the walk' much longer. All the best.
Weta said...Good work Juddy,
We need to be pro-active. I had an incident with a pregnant woman at the southern end of leighton beach 2 weeks ago. The woman was genuinely scared that i would cause her injury with my kite as she was in the water and i was walking the shame down the beach with my kite over the water. I assured her she was safe but she left the water abusing me and walked upwind of me where i was vocally informed she had already been hit by a kite and she was upset we were using the entire beach. As i have had lessons and kite safe and am a responsible member of waksa i knew she was in no danger, so i did feel she was being overly dramatic but it does show the
public's perception of us. In retrospect i should have pointed out that if she was so concerned about her safety she should have been swimming between the flags a further 400m down the beach where i definitely stay clear of.
i will log my support @your email address
