There is a copy of the SAKSA newsletter No 20 regarding PFD's
We have an official discussion thread with a copy of the newsletter here.
http://www.saksa.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=349

I agree Brett... surely it should be just a recommendation to use a PFD, not a mandatory requirement! Where is our freedom of choice here, after all it is not endangering anybody else but yourself... so it should be a choice you make personally... I have had one instance of a buckle on my PFD getting caught up in one of the lines, there is a danger in itself!
I can understand boats having them as a mandatory requirement when there are other people involved... giving them the option to wear one or as long as they are carried in the vessel.
It's similar to other extreme sports I have undertaken... I hang glide and instruct in microlights, they have the options of carrying parachutes, not a mandatory requirement! If you are familiar with your equipment and know its limitations then it should be a choice you make... I myself have never carried a parachute... along with many others who have been in the sport for years!
They are just another department who like to feel in control of everyone and it amazes me why the whole of Australia does not have the same rules regarding this!
*I can feel the flames coming* just my opinion!

Yeah... will be interesting watching them trying to catch the surfers etc.. in an attempt to enforce these rulings, after all if they use jet skis they will have to observe the rules and keep the speed down when close to people or the shore!!!
Gonna be some pretty pissed off surfies around

ive got a 200 bucks saved up for a fine, i would rather pay that than wear a pfd kitesurfing.
when wakeboarding i wear a pfd, because it is unrestrictive and safe.

learn to swim before you kite!

If we are "a vessel" do we have to wear the pfd or have one "onboard"?

I've got money on the first person trying to enforce this to a surfer will get a fist to the head!!! lol

revenue raising ****as!

how are you supposed to wear a PFD over your harness? when i wear a waist harness it comes almost up to my chest!

hehehe, loads of kiters/surfers with almost wife beater tans coming up!!!

Im looking forward to getting chased around

Same here Hope the wind don't drop.

Is there a Hotline to Dob a Surfer ?

I don't care about the fine, I recon I’ll be able to avoid them anyway - the main concern is the lack of public liability insurance if you’re not abiding by the pre requisites. I’d hate to see a kiter loosing cover on an accident because they’re not wearing a pdf, and an insurance company will do everything they can to avoid a payout. From what I’ve heard about Henley the last couple of weekends it’s on the cards.
Let’s see how the surfers react!

good point...
next time I see a marine officer I'll just tell him I'm going body dragging.