I'm sure many of you in our Southern Suburbs have witnessed many near misses and the often dangerous behaviour of Jet Ski's in Port Hacking between Gunnamatta Bay and The Maianbar Spit known as 'The Pole' within the 'Bay Surf' area.

Two weeks ago, I witnessed an event that could easily have led to a death as a jet ski wave jumped within the surf break area and landed on the deck of a SUP (the rider was attached and luckily in the water and not on the board).





The very next day, some SUP riders and myself were heavily impacted on by 3 jet ski's wave jumping on and around us within the surf zone much to our annoyance.

As you all know, Jet Ski's go very fast, are being driven by at times very inexperienced drivers, cannot see non powered craft on the other side of breaking waves, chop up and disrupt a smooth swell surface and are damn noisy !

It's interesting to look at the New South Wales Maritime Rules and remind ourselves what Jet Ski's can and can't do within our surf / sup zones.

Thought I'd share the regulations with you guys and if you come across behaviour that places you or your family at risk, get the registration and report the persons to the authorities and demand they issue Infringements and continue to patrol the area on our behalf.

www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html

Distance off

When driving a vessel at a speed of 10 knots or more or towing a person you must keep the vessel and the person being towed a minimum distance of:
30 metres from power-driven vessels, any moored vessel, land and structures including jetties, bridges, moorings and navigation markers) or, if that is not possible, a safe distance.
60 metres from persons or non-powered vessels (sailing and passive) that are underway or if that is not possible, a safe distance.
100 metres from a dredge or work barge, if you are travelling faster than 4 knots.
A safe distance from any vessel towing a person.

Of particular interest is within the 'Other Boating Activites - Personal Watercraft' section which states;

(2) PWC Restriction Zone

This zone encompasses the bays, rivers and other waterways within the Sydney basin area which lies between Port Hacking, Wamberal and the Blue Mountains, but does not include open (ocean) waters.

PWC are not permitted to be operated in an irregular manner within 200m of the shoreline of the above. Examples of operating in an irregular manner are:
1. Driving in a circle or other pattern.
2. Weaving or diverting.
3. Surfing down or jumping over or across any swell, wave or wash.

This means that PWC are required to be operated generally in a straight line within 200m of the shoreline.


They are a nighmare and I have to say, I've have had a gutful of them !