Great pickup !
After a fantastic session at Mentone this afternoon, thought I better add my 2 cents.
I really don't understand what the problem might be - I've never seen anyone swimming when I've been down at Mentone - it's always too windy for anyone to be at the beach.

no boating is no boating you dumb ****s

Tarzan,
That article was pretty specific: it's not just about danger to swimmers in general, but kite/windsurfers/jetskies entering 'swimming only' areas.
Ignorance is no defence, we are all effectively considered as 'boats' under the law (thankfully without having to be licenced...yet) and as such must aquaint ourselves with the regs and stick to them else invite further regulation.

Frankly, it seems inevitable that we'll be seeing more regulation in a place of high population density as melb: The recently designated kiteboarding areas are already inadequate in coping with the explosion of kiteboarder numbers. This summer will be a doozy. Wouldn't be surprised we'll be seeing kiteboarder licencing soon (just like other boat operators)- not just to extract money to fund policing of the sport, but to ensure that we are aware of the various boating rules and zoning regulations via a test.

In the meantime, we would do well to visit KBV site or parks victoria and make sure that we know the regs and designated areas. And for God's sake, STAY WELL CLEAR of other beach users. Including not kiting too close to shore where a mistake could lead to the garotting of people sitting on the beach!

The flip side: people who swim in designated kiteboarding areas. In this case it would be wise for us to politely inform these people of the dangers!

matto said...

Looks as though this is going to be THE issue of the summer.

Has anyone got a current link to the "MAP" outlining all of the exclusion zones.

Any links (including the ones on the KBV site) are dead.

I had links bookmarked but they don't work anymore!
Had a look at Parks Vic and the page has changed and couldn't find a guide on the boating zones!!! Just rang Parks Vic to find out whats going on. The page has been updated and they're 'experiencing difficulties' with people being able to find stuff .

Was directed to the following link for the boating guide:
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/313566/rec_boat_guide_port_phillip.pdf

Hello KBV: Suggest you update your page with this link as well.

I kite at Mentone alot a i just stay south of storm water pipe and the lifesavers I have spoken to are happy with that. :)

Does no boating mean no surfskis, surf boats or rubber duckies?

wonder how long middle brighton beach will last?!

Big eeeZeee said...

wonder how long middle brighton beach will last?!

The answer depends entirely on how willing the regulars are to speak up constructively and assertively every time we see someone doing/about to do something foolish.

And a reminder to any beginners: Brighton is only suitable for you once you are comfortably staying upwind and can confidently self-rescue. If it's blowing from the North then it will be shifty and gusty. If in doubt, ask, or sit back and learn by watching.

echunda said...

adrenal said...


Ambiguous?
Latest Melways has the zones too.

Need a heads-up from KBV.....

Really????

Have they already published the new boating zones in the MELWAYS?

Is that 2011 or 2012?

Don't know echunda...
The dude at Parks told me about the melways so I would assume the latest melways is up to date. Would be interesting to see if it is more up to date than the map (link above)

Like I said above, despite a whole bunch of bay areas being slated in a draft review as 'kiteboarding only', at this stage only one appears on the map - St Kilda. No doubt more will follow.

The red areas are the stricktly no boating, no go zones and the St Kilda kiteboarding area is surrounded by them....We should all take note!

Derek, thanks to you and the rest of KBV people for representing us

KBV have little choice but to state/enforce the 5kt rule - duty of care..
This is despite the rule being completely impractical and unenforcable from a kiteboarders perspective. It's the elephant in the room really.

On my last reading of the regs, the 5kt rule says that any vessel including kiteboarders must limit speed to below 5kts if within 200m of the high water mark (shoreline) anywhere in the bay including kiteboarding areas (except of course in non-boating zones where you shouldn't be anyway).

All those yellow markers with the yellow cross mark this 200m boundary. As the rule stands, everyone of us breaks the law (for which there are penalties) everytime we strap on our boards close to shore then skoot off towards the horizon. What are we to do? Bodydrag out to the markers? The answere so far is that it simply isn't policed - tacit acknowledgement that this reg is not a good one when it comes to kiteboarders/windsurfers.

Derek: This issue must have been raised in your discussions with Parks etc. Will there be allowances made for kiteboarders and windsurfers in designated areas?

Peter,
There is a map in the boating guide per link in above post. Here it is again:
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/313566/rec_boat_guide_port_phillip.pdf

Have a look at the red no baoting areas around mentone. Think you'll find that the area you quoted will be marked.

But the map is pretty small scale and not easy to use. Also signs on the beach?

Adrenal, that is a good map + guide. I haven't seen it before, even though I got a boat licence recently. I clearly shows the no boating zones but you have to look closely to see them. I suspect that 99% of kitesurfers in Melbourne would not be aware of this resource though.

Jev7337 - those maps were all drafts for consultation - they are not final - we need to know the outcomes.

Curiously, the best kitesurfing guide I have located so far is from South Australia here http://www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Kite_Surf_SAFETY_ADVICE_.pdf

I wonder why every State is doing something the same but slightly different?

Thanks for that jev,
Those were the draft recommendations that I had bookmarked but went dead.
So its official, that Parks kitboarding guide states that we are required to adhere to the 200m 5kt rule which implies that we must bodydrag the 200m from shore before jumping on our boards It does not mention any waiver for kiteboarding zones...

Gorgo said...

adrenal said...
... 200m 5kt rule which implies that we must bodydrag the 200m from shore before jumping on our boards ...

It's all a moot point. You can do whatever you like as long as you don't make a dick of yourself. Such as riding through a no boating zone when there are people and lifeguards and flags about is kind of blindingly obvious.

I basically agree with you Gorgo: it is a little moot. However, who slows down for that first 200m? Answer: nobody. Does it matter? Probably not....until someone hits a swimmer at speed within the 200m zone....which is where kiteboarder only zones come into play.

My point is that technically we're all still committing an offence everytime we go out due to a regulation that is out of step with the practical realities on the ground.

The bay regs are in overhaul mode at the moment and seem to be playing catch-up to fast changing modes of use. Now's the time to tidy this one up...

echunda said...

Great discussion.

It almost makes me want to ditch the windsurf gear and take up kiting.

See what you've started!
Yeah, come play with US

Adrenal,

Your comments are appreciated. Trying as best we can.

It goes without saying certain aspects of the rules need clarification and understanding by the wider kiting community (its being worked on) but I am fairly certain on the rule regarding kiteboarding / windsurfing zones and five knot rule not applying in the zones.

No point in having a kiteboarding zone where you cant kite.

Note disclaimer still applies and replying in personal capacity.

adrenal said...

Pedro Sexton said...

My understanding is that in the designated Kiteboarding and windsurfing zones the 5 knot rule does not apply. Refer to KBV post for details of what KBV has been doing in regards to these zones.

Disclaimer: I recently joined KBV as a committee member but this is a personal opinion. Note KBV official communications are all directed through our communications manager to ensure a singular and consistent message is getting across to our members and kiting public alike.

adrenal said...

Hey Pedro, unlike me, you're walking your talk and have put your hand up for KBV. Good on you!
As one of our representantives, we humbly submit the contents of this thread for consideration in your discussions with the people who write the rules. Go get em tiger