Windsurfing Victoria has clarified and updated windsurf access restrictions within the State of Victoria during the current Covid-19 crisis. As of 14th April 2020, Victoria Water Police have confirmed that SUP, kite and windsurf activities are now clear to continue, subject very strictly to the statewide limits on social distancing. Which of course includes gatherings, albeit random even within rigging or car park areas etc. And they require that we self manage effectively this access as a user group: stay in closer to shore and sail only in conditions that are self-rescue (ie. no extreme or offshore winds). Victorian Emergency authorities have less ability to rescue, as their numbers are down due to some of their members have to stay in lockdown.No heroics, please. For everyone's benefit. Any situations creating negative public sentiment or requiring official intervention (group gathering or rescue etc) will jeopardise this highly valued access.Please treat this access with suitable respect and proactively encourage all other users to do likewise.Stay Safe. On and off the water.

And... does this mean the beach closures don't apply? Or do we have to go to beaches that aren't closed?

Great post Sailquik!

Nelle said..
Anyone heading out today?

No wind around here today. Looks like there is for the next few days though.

Further confirmation from Tim Bull MP.

www.facebook.com/tim.bullmp/videos/507329783482870/

MP Tim Bull has retracted his statement about Windsurfers being allowed out after he contacted the Chief Medical Officer. We are not allowed to windsurf at the moment . Sadly we have to remain dry. Hopefully 4 weeks things will change.

Old Salty said..
MP Tim Bull has retracted his statement about Windsurfers being allowed out after he contacted the Chief Medical Officer. We are not allowed to windsurf at the moment . Sadly we have to remain dry. Hopefully 4 weeks things will change.

This will be my only post about this as this has turned into a **** fight to the point that I'm no longer a member of the IWC or it's FaceBook
The advice from the Water Police ,Fisheries , Windsurfing Victoria and KBV is that it is ok to sail. I have provided some with email copies with the above info. If in doubt check with the Police as they will be the one's that fine you.

mr love said..
Channel 7 last night said it was now OK to Paddle board and Kitesurf, so in that context I guess it is OK to Windsurf, if its on tely it must be true.

Its not a very complicated sport or issue, so one would think their top investigative reporters should be able to tackle it and get it right

With all the discussion and confusion about whether we can legally windsurf or not(and boy do I want to) I decided
1 week ago to speak with the Martime Safety people. Following is the response I received this morning.
I approached them as Doug Hocken the individual and he seems to have confused me with someone from Windsurfing Vic anyway his take not my inference.

Please note the comment about the Dept of Health and Human Services. I have also seen an email from that Department referencing windsurfing as a banned sporting activity as well.

We are living in a very fluid situation and hopefully this changes in 4 weeks time and we can all get legally wet and wind in our hair again

Stay safe all.


Hi Doug

Apologies for not responding earlier. I had not seen your email, but had been speaking with all the other peak bodies including Kiteboarding Aus/ Vic and Aust Sailing. I was not aware of Windsurfing Vic until Gavin Wall showed me your recent posts late last week. IF there is further work we can do together in the future - feel free to get back in touch.

I understand that the WaterPolice have informed you that they would not be infringing participatns who are windsurfing during the period of this stay at home direction. It is important to note that VicPol did not create this Stay at Home Direction. The Dept of Health and Human Services (DHHS) created the Stay at Home Direction under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act using the State of Emergency powers.

The waterpolice cannot amend the Stay at Home Direction, or give you permission to promote windsurfing. At best they can utilise discretion when undertaking enforcement action. Last Friday night the Chief Health Officer (CHO) made an announcement that paddles sports are now included in the exercise clause of a reason to leave home. At this stage windpowered sports are still part of the prohibited activity of recreational boating.

As shown last week on the Better Boating website - windsurfing and Kitesurfing are included in the scope of recreational boating. MSV is not able to give you permission that you can share with your members - However you are able to seek an exemption, or change the ruling from DHHS by calling the Dept of Human Services on this COVID-19 hotline: 1800 675 398. - - If an exemption is not granted and you wish to persist with the activity, the onus will be on the individual to satisfy the enforcement officers of the essential nature of the activity.

Hopefully this provides you with some information that you can share with your members, or an alternative path to seek an amendment to the restrictions, rather than word of mouth through the Water Police. But also - do not lose sight of the fact that this is a pandemic that is spread through community exposure. The government is urging all Victorians to make sacrifices and stay at home rather than look for loopholes to keep doing what they always do.

Rgds
Gareth Johnson
Manager Recreational Boating Safety
Maritime Safety Victoria
A branch of Transport Safety Victoria


If anyone would like a copy of the email and my correspondence I am happy to pass it on.

This is farcical:

1- What is the science or logic for Vic Chief Health Officer to differentiate between paddle powered and windpowered boards in his advice to MSV ??

2- "As shown last week on the Better Boating website - windsurfing and Kitesurfing are included in the scope of recreational boating."...so were kayaking, SUPing etc...now they are not recreational boating?! - BTW none of these should be bundled together and with sailboats anyway.

3- The most sensible official was the Deputy Police Commissioner who spoke to 3AW after peoples' reaction to on-the-spot fines issued to a few paddle boarders...on flat water and a few hundred metres from the shore :)... The police boats patrolling the bay, chasing SUPs was an absurd sight. Since then (probably after briefing the police officers on how to use their discression), there were no longer waterpolice wasting their time and fuel.

I don't have time to waste to call COVID-19 Hotline and ask for an exemption. The discussion has become too political, focused on saving face and nothing to do with common sense. It is unlikely to get to a logical outcome. I'd go out sailing if the wind kicks in rather than regret that I wasted an opportunity because of the current ambigious, inconsistent and arbitrary situation.

This is my personal view, I have no intention to give any advice to anyone.

Police ribs hunting windsurfers in mordy today !