Paulybehaved said...
I didn't think we needed to wear a pfd or lifejacket when kitesurfing, however I received a brochure from Transport Safety Victoria which says:
Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are otherwise known
as life jackets, buoyancy vests or buoyancy garments.
All occupants of the following vessels are required to
wear a specified PFD when on an open area of a vessel
that is underway:
? power driven vessels up to and including 4.8 metres (m) in length
? off-the-beach sailing yachts
? personal water craft
? canoes, kayaks and rowing boats
? rafts, pedal boats and fun boats
? kite boards and sail boards
? recreational tenders.
http://www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/60328/Safety-matters-brochure-Your-guide-to-safer-boating.pdf
Is this ever policed? I have never seen a kitesurfer wear a pfd.
Its actually been a rule for a long time. Its never been enforced and no one has ever hassled any kiters I know about it.
Its basically the government protecting themselves in case some parent sues them for not telling them to wear life jackets while they are in the water. (and there are people who will do it)
Same thing as the parents suing the government over people jumping off the westgate bridge due to the railings not being protective enough to stop someone committing suicide. They fail to realise that the westgate is not the problem, its their kids wanting to commit suicide so instead of taking a look at themselves and the problems their kid was having, they blame the government by taking the approach that if the bridge was better, their kid wouldn't have done it. Its really dumb logic. In reality, if the bridge was better, the kid would have found some other bridge to jump off or would have taken an overdose of tablets.
