I'll be wearing a one finger salute if anyone tries to make me wear a pfd (unless i'm doing the bass strait crossing perhaps).

Just had a look. Once again we have people making rules and laws for things they know nothing about. People that windsurf and kitesurf can swim. It mentioned something about 400m offshore or more you need a pfd. Thats not very far. An easy swim for most people.

Good luck to them trying to enforce it." Sorry officer but if you take another look you will see that my gybe was done 399m from shore."

they better have really long tape measures

In SA its been mandatory to wear a type 2 or 3 PFD for a couple of years now whenever on a kitesurfer, polesurfer, kyack, recreational etc etc. Only boogers and surfers are exempt. NO 400m crap, NO 'when alone'.
It is mandatory at all times.
I raised this on seabreeze after i was policed at Wallaroo (SA) and threatened with a fine if i went out again without a PFD. I had to pack up my two kites, drive 30 mins to the boat shop and buy one.
I was pretty pissed at the police and told them what i thought. I was probably lucky they didn't arrest me. They pointed out a few other laws i was breaking. There's no signage but, within 400m of the beach in front of the houses (half the length of the beach,) it is a 4kt speed limit. Basically a no go zone for kiters, fair enough i s'pose
Yes, they did patrol the beach several times.
I love cops.

Well done to NSWKBA and all who petitioned against the proposals. The status quo remains and agree its a great excuse to kite with mates, so its now law to kite then have a beer together. I know a slight stretch but I'm running with it.
Constant winds,
Baz.

does god count apparently if you believe in him your never alone .................. no good for me the voices in my head are always telling me to burn things lol

As Tobes pointed out, the initial regulations proposed by NSW Maritime recommended:

"Lifejackets be worn when operating small recreational craft such as a sailboard, kayak, canoe, kite
surf or similar craft:
- In sheltered waters, when more than 100 metres from an accessible shore
- In ocean waters, at all times."

This proposal was in response to a recent increase in drownings involving small craft such as dingys and NSW Maritime were responding to government and community pressure to take action to reduce these tragic drownings.

NSWKBA committee surveyed the community (via SeaBreeze forums) and NSW membership, took the feedback back to NSW Maritime and after several rounds of negotiations, which involved a considerable number of discussions and exchange of emails and letters with NSW Maritime, they came back with a compromise proposal which was that Type3 PFD be worn:

"by all persons when kite surfing alone more than 400 metres from shore", and otherwise at the discretion of the kiter.

We felt that this was a reasonable compromise and represented a good balance between safety and self-regulation and chose not to fight it further.

Part of this compromise was achieved by demonstrating how a typical kite harness provided a degree of flotation similar to a type 3 PFD and demonstrating that in more than 10 years of kitesurfing in NSW there had not been a single instance of a kitesurfer drowning due to a lack of a PFD being worn.

We also indicated to them that rarely do kiters travel more than 400m offshore in any case so the 400m rule and being alone was not an unreasonable regulation.

In any event,in addition to a Type 3 PFD, NSWKBA would also suggest that if you do intend to kite more than 400 m from shore that you carry with you a mobile phone in a waterproof case in the event that you do get into trouble. Note that any functioning mobile phone with a SIM card (charged or not) can still ring 000 for emergency assistance.

Rob Smallwood
NSWKBA Committee

The objective of the consultation/negotiation exercise with NSW Maritime was to allow kiters to make their own choice of whether to wear a PFD or not--rather than be forced by legislation to do so. However, it was not intended in any way to suggest that kiters shouldn't wear a PFD if they choose to do so.

Your abilities, your environment, prevailing conditions and of course, common sense should be your guide to what is right for you in each circumstance.

Rob Smallwood
NSWKBA Committee

Its more like peer pressure from cool as **** kiters who say no. Mr funky got it right on the nail