At Middleton weekend before last I got harassed for not wearing pfds, I was lucky and he gave me a life warning, so cool now I have to wear a pfd. The particular individual seems to be active again after quite a while not being seen. Croc and I have chatted and I will head up some contacts again with Marine Safety after letting my inital enquiries go quiet.

Anyone wanting to participate by way of wise words of rationale as to when and how pfds should or should not be worn message me. Yes its too easy to be angry about it but we need to work positively.

Our basic launching pad is that there was no consultation when the legislation was changed to include kitesurfing and there was no consideration that kitesurfing is a new and totally different sport and is not a boat or vessel and cannot be classed as such just because its convenient to do so on paper. We maintain that it is surfing and being a surf board and having to get under waves is cricial in particular when the kite is put down you do NOT want to be getting bounced around in surf into kite lines when you can simply duck under the wave and let it go over you and relaunch your kite.

the representative said to me that he has heard this before but never seen anone do it. I explained that it is not a regular part of kitesuring but when you need to do it,.. it is urgent and is critical that it can be done. Also that we don't want our kite in the water but when it is you need to go uner the waves not be picked up by them and thrown over, (in which case any pfd offers no protection as you are getting worked by the surf far worse than if you have no pfd) For anyone that has had a pfd on in the surf it is like taking the beating of your life.

We are surfers and should be under the same rules as surfers, these kinds of rules are made by people who do not surf or kitesurf and do not understand what it is like to be in surf. We need to get into the mix before they make things even harder with more restrictions and rules like they have with Jet Skis.

Constructive comments appreciated, or message me

Darren

Have to say I definately found it easier to swim in to the surf in a normal wetsuit than in a bouyancy suit and have tried both. Not much fun going backwards rather than getting to where you want to be.(mostly in the direction of where my kite or surfboard was and very different to the river.) as said we are surfers but of a different nature and should be treated the same. Those who are not confident will and should take precautions like anyone else for thier own safety!
Do not judge the unknown but respect it.

would think it needs to meet a certain "Australian Standard" but don't quote me on it

So basically I see it as within 400m its Type 1 -3
After 400m its PFD type 1 only, big bulky and dangerous, that's why wake boarders don't use type 1 and even the boating handbook advises against type 1 for wake boarders.
I would consider a kiter basically a wake boarders with a different means of power.
400m is not very far off shore.
Hopefully a change can be made to legislation soon....

some of the inflatables are pfd1 im thinking of getting one of those if i have to . About $70

www.fishingtackleshop.com.au/watersnake-inflatable-pfd-level-150/

obviously dont get the automatically inflate versions manual only lol

JB that might b ok for anyone who looks like the silver surfer
But I reckon this Noddy would b on a mission if he saw an opportunity.
I'm thinkin when its time to come in, just be polite without giving away
anything about your details.
Pack up go home and deny everything in court

I've got an update on the RDF I mentioned in the last post as available on Ebay. I received the one I ordered today and can confirm that it is surprisingly compact. I definitely recommend getting one of these if you are planning on carrying a PFD.. Hope this helps,

POP

Here is the link with photos and a gooby guy wearing it. It sit's high so I think it will be OK with a waist harness. It's more compact than the one Dazza got so I don't think you would find a smaller one. Also it has a plastic clip rather than the metal buckle shown which is better IMO

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/INFLATABLE-LIFEJACKET-PFD1-RFD-Cyclone-Life-jacket-150N-/310340495727?pt=AU_Boating_Water_Sports_Equipment&hash=item4841bc296f#ht_9080wt_1064

martynbone said...

pintofpale said...

I've got an update on the RDF I mentioned in the last post as available on Ebay. I received the one I ordered today and can confirm that it is surprisingly compact. I definitely recommend getting one of these if you are planning on carrying a PFD.. Hope this helps,

POP

Can you post a photo?

Kiterben that suits looks interesting, it certainly is a different take on it, if its compliant and anyone tries one I would be interested. if you are ordering keep us updated. Its a clever take

Stormboy unfortunately this guy is on a mission and if we dont wear them down south we will be hit over and over with fines, then court appearances for failing to comply with infringment notices, I have a family and business so thats just not an option, it would work with a standard enforcement case but this is much more overpolicing. I have made a note of this on a report that I am working on, it seems to me there are far more illegal activities going on that our taxpayers money can be focused on, but for now its maintain a positive approach and work on changing things.

Razzel

all really good points made! Another one to add is that it only seems to be of concern in one location in SA....

G'day Daz, I met with Transport SA on behalf of SAKSA in early 2010. The Minister's office had made the announcement without consulting us nor the sailing, surfing or sailboarding communities.
We challenged the changes on the basis that the pfd puts the kiter at greater risk plus we're attached to a large inflatable kite; a kite has far more buoyancy than a pfd...
They took the conservative approach; they rejected it on grounds that more people were injured kiting than the other watersports combined and there was no significant evidence that injuries had occurred due to a pfd.
A contrary argument was how many injured kiters have drowned by not wearing a pfd; none that I was aware of but it wasn't something they planned to risk. This will need to be tackled to get them to change their policy. Surfers were originally included in the pfd rules but mysteriously seem to have dropped out so clearly there's potential for change.
Croc should have some correspondence on file, give me a buzz if not.
Basically, other states have kept it simple and reasonable. No pfd inshore (swimming distance), and pfd required for offshore. Unfortunately, we have a different set of rules.
Well done for taking it to them and let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Cheers Chappy

My 5 cents worth:

The only reason there is "no evidence that injuries have occured due to a pdf" is because up to now no one was wearing them.

But this will now change - they started enforcing this poorly thought through law and people ARE ALREADY GETTING INJURED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THESE ACTIONS.
Here is a post from this moring by russh:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/South-Australia/to-work-or-not-to-work/

"About the Pfd- a fellow sailor who got nabbed for not wearing a pfd did the right thing bought one and got slammed and rolled in bashams shore break last week and ended up with chipped cervical spine - because every time he tried to dive e corked back to the surface and got head planted - a very experienced surfer and wave sailor

Hope you are successful in your efforts to change the policing of the law
There are some angry wavesail crew at the moment because of the stupidity of this poorly thought out legislation"

We have an official letter in from a joint venture of SAKSA and Windsurfing SA, Harry has had a meeting with the Marine Authorities and we expect to have a meeting with them soon. Thanks again to Harry for his efforts here.

Daz