completely agree.

But can I just put the reverse proposition. Kiting has been banned at a number of locations in Port Melbourne that are now dedicated 'swimming only zones'. This results in higher concentrations of kiters in the 5-knot zones, where of course people also swim. Of course the show ponies treat the zone as a kiting zone, insisting on kiting between swimmers, including young children. of course, they think it's all a laugh, jumping over the top of these children...

Until they extend the banned zones further, or they're facing a million dollar negligence law suit for landing on the kid's head. i'm no negligence lawyer, but jumping in a 5-knot zone clearly within the 50m restriction between vessels and people, would seem like a pretty difficult case to defend.

And of course both of these impact all of us in terms of where we can kite and how much our insurance costs...

koma said...

Swimmer arrives at kitebeach and tells kiters to kite else where.

Unfortunately i think the swimmer is within his rights to do this. As long as there's a swimmer there then kiters must maintain the 5kn-50m rule, no exceptions.

I understand the rule. I think the part that bugs me is that there were acres of swimmer allocated beach next door with nobody on them, in fact, less than 100m so why park your car exactly where the kiters are then get pissed off that the kiters are there?

Spot on KnutH.

Don't for a moment think i was ok with what the swimmer did... but it's a double edged sword of curiosity and ignorance that makes the general public want to come and watch, but they're the same ones who will cry foul when a kite falls/crashes near their children.

More or less damned if we do, damned if we don't.

I think there is a right way and a wrong way to approach this. You can go up to the parent and say something like "I'm only looking out for your safety when I tell you this but, because of the kiters in the area, it could be risky for you to swim here"

I think most swimmers/general beach users would genuinely not realize the risk they were subjecting themselves to and would probably be grateful for the heads up. Also, a lot of families think areas like the kiddie pool shallows are safe places for their kids to play - shallow water, no waves.

Also have had to tell a few kids not to try and pick up my kite and relaunch it when it has blown ashore. They just think they are trying to help and are being nice. But I don't want them to get hurt!

It all comes down to how you approach the people.

lostinlondon said...

I think there is a right way and a wrong way to approach this. You can go up to the parent and say something like "I'm only looking out for your safety when I tell you this but, because of the kiters in the area, it could be risky for you to swim here"

I think most swimmers/general beach users would genuinely not realize the risk they were subjecting themselves to and would probably be grateful for the heads up. Also, a lot of families think areas like the kiddie pool shallows are safe places for their kids to play - shallow water, no waves.

Also have had to tell a few kids not to try and pick up my kite and relaunch it when it has blown ashore. They just think they are trying to help and are being nice. But I don't want them to get hurt!

It all comes down to how you approach the people.

Its one thing not to know any better, I wouldn't have a problem if they came where we were and then ignore us, but to ignore acres of open beach and come right where the kiters are and then ask the kiters to move is just plain selfish. Its like me walking down the one of the piers where the fishermen are, jumping in the water and asking the fishermen to move because they're endangering me.