Hey WA/Perth Riders,

I'm really keen to do the rotto crossing this summer (once i get in proper shape) but would like to know if there is any info about making the journey??? Who has done it, did you have boat support, were you able to get on a ferry to come back over, did you have any problems???

Let me know???

Need permission from Freo Port Auth. and more.........but it has been done numerous times.....must have been at night when nobody could see.

Hey,

I tried to organise this as an event last season, but we could not get all the necessary approvals. It was organised once before by youngy, but the wind didn't blow.

It is very dangerous (but it has been done). You do need approval from a number of agencies, but as some advice before you even try for approval you will need:
A support boat that can handle the conditions (remember it is the open ocean, and it will be windy, they need to be able to rescue you if things go wrong)
Flares, PFD Type 1, and I can't quite remember the rest, but search the dpi website for the rules for personal water craft operating in water more than 400m from shore, www.dpi.wa.gov.au.

Oh, and don't think you'll easily get away with it, the relevant agencies are well aware of people trying the crossing and will stop you, so follow the law. They use the Pilots, Freo VSRG, Water Police and RIA to pull up illegal jet ski's all the time.

If you can't be bothered getting approval, don't do it! You'll only screw it for all the rest of us!

One day...

Hi aspiring Rotto kiters,

As you can see from the previous posts a Rotto crossing has been in the hearts and minds of WA kiters for years. Unfortunately the maze of authorisations and saftey/logistical hurdles have prevented it happening for the last few years.

Because we all aspire to do a longer more challenging downwind run than the usual impromptu downwinders we arrange when we get to the beach, WAKSA is staging a 'Long Downwinder' from Leighton to Trigg on Sunday 28th October (back up date 18th November in case of a poor forecast). Full events details at:

http://waksa.org.au.86.aspwebhosting.com.au/Events_view.aspx?Eventid=13

The event is free to all current WAKSA/AKSA members, renew or become a member at:

waksa.org.au.86.aspwebhosting.com.au/login.aspx

We'll meet at Trigg at 12pm (daylight saving starts on Sunday 28th so a later start is better), we'll bus everyone to Leighton, the bus will do a half way stop at Swanbourne for those getting tired, and then we'll all meet at Trigg at the end for a BBQ.

It's not quite a Rotto crossing but it's a good start; a sea of kites stretching along a good portion of Perth's coastline!

WAKSA's strategy is to raise the profile of kitesurfing as a sport over the next 2-3 years by delivering a range of well organised events in high visibility locations in order to position kitesurfing as a sport worth the big sponsorship dollars needed to stage major events like a Rotto crossing.

See you all on Sunday 28th and keep the Rotto dream alive!

Your WAKSA crew

why not a crossing from say woodies to Garden island.
most of the beaches on garden island are accesable too the public by private boat.

Just to be clear, when we applied for approval last year, it was clear that we would not "ever" get approval for an event. This decsion was made by the most senior person in the particular orgnaisation. So don't expect it will be easy to get approval.

WAKSA listened, we had a red hot go and we were stopped at the last minute by the ultimate authority.

As for Garden Island (I also discussed getting approval for this), it has the same rules, it's just a little further out of the way.

um, well this is to be kept quiet but as it is you can kite from rotto if you have a flare and life jacket as the laws everyone is reading from are for motor boats, sailing craft are far less restricted but having said that you would have to be an idiot to test your limits with your life at stake. so if you want to do it have a chase boat thats sea worthy enough for you to struggle to keep up with it, a boat over 25 foot and capable of over 30 knots but smaller than 30 foot would be the go if it was skippered by a kiter as well.

if you dont think you could get on to the boat in heavy seas and kite still attached to you then its a silly idea.

i wouldnt want to support illegal activities... openly on a forum
msn time

barely know anything on the issue but fom this website it seems that people are allowed to swim across!?

rottnestchannelswim.com.au/

If they allow people to swim why not kites?

guys like you....get a life...how did my kiting over there get the application from waksa refused.....i had flares .life vest and marine radio..

Youngy's right even with a flare, radio, pfd, etc it is still illegal.

Do us a favour don't do it and we might actually get it off the ground in the future, so everyone can do it!

its a long and boring ride stick to the coast thats where all the waves are . maybe you should try the back of garden island, start at point peron and finish at woodies as for rotto go buy a boat or catch a ferry then you can drink piss on the way home.