The pond is a wicked place to kite, and for the most part, locals are friendly to the blow ins, and every one gets along. When blow ins rock up, try and own the beach, do not make the effort to follow the local rules, which are there to allow more kiters to share the one spot and allow every one a piece of flat water, then of course locals are going to start getting agro. Not one of the locals here are aggressive people, but are driven to it when they are forever trying to get the same learners out of the pond and trying to get the same group of kiters to follow some simple rules.
These efforts aren't just for us locals to have more space, but also to share the water with the local windsurfers. There has been talk in the past of safety bay being banned for kiters, and if we can't sort our s#it out, then it will come around and bite us. No wonder we get agro when people won't listen or co operate.

It's this simple.
*If you're learning, and aren't skilled enough to avoid other kiters and windsurfers, then stay out.
*If you are kiting in the pond, then use the flat water on your run in and out, but then continue out till you are at least in line with the boat ramp (if it's busier, continue to the weed bank before turning around).
*Stay upwind of the bouy in the middle of the pond. If you are down wind of the bouy, then make sure you are giving the windsurfers the right of way.

If you can't follow these rules, and you have to be asked to follow these rules more than once, then of course we will become aggressive. We are protecting our local spot.

Ask any local and I am confident they will give you the same story.

This from the DPI. They are running late with this but it will happen. The two areas are Windsurf & Kitesurf not Locals & Euros Sorry I can't post the PDF of the signs. So the area of which you speak will become even more crowded as the size is reduced.

Ladies and Gents
My apologies on the delay on this project.
Following further deliberations by DEC, I can advise that DEC have made a decision not to allow the rigging of kites on the end of the nature reserve.
As a result, I intend to proceed and install the attached sign at 4 strategic locations around the Pond area prior to the New Year. Transport will also be installing four rubber orange buoys to demarcate the two areas.
Thank you for your co-operation on this project.
I propose to convene a meeting at the end of summer to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and discuss any further measures.
Have a wonderful and safe festive season.
Regards
Ray Buchholz
Manager Navigational Safety and Compliance.
Marine Safety

Charl dv said...

places such as safety bay etc are small and not suited for people wanting to learn,

i think you should point out you mean the pond . There is plenty of beach at safety bay for people to learn . If you want to showboat then use the pond . Otherwise there are km's of other beach in safety bay

I rememeber when I was learning and I got out of every ones way. I did not want to be a burden on any ones safety so I rode in the chop as far away from every one as possible right through the middle of winter until I could mix it up with the crowds. The same friggin way I learnt to surf stand up when I was figgin 13 years old in the chop through the middle of winter not in the il primo spots offshore peeling beauties dropping in on the boys that have paid there dues. So to the learners RACK OFF from the pond and if you can kite dont for farks sake ride just inside the pond like an ignorant selfish terd, take your runs out a bit further, look when you turn or jump, and dont adopt the approach of this CHEEZEL no one owns the water BLA BLA and have a think about what we have said coz it does actually work if you try. I tried it when I was a learner and it worked for me I cant remeber pissing any one off! **** I think I just repeated myself! Why wont you drop kicks listen and just go with the flow.!

chrislee said...

Your all a bunch of f$&€wits!!! No one owns the water! Remember when your were s learning loser!!!!

Cocks!!!!!

If/when I ever visit another country/state and go kiting, I wouldn't necessarily troll through pages and pages of forums looking for all the local rules, I'd look on a website like WAKSA at the location guide.

It does mention beginners should avoid the flat water, but there have been a few other local 'rules' mentioned on here. How about getting the WAKSA website updated, specifically mentioning the pond?

The more you spread the word, the more will (hopefully) be aware of it.

My 2 cents...

I have been reading this thread with interest. I am a windsurfer and have sailed at Safety Bay since long before some of the other people that sail/kite there graduated from primary school. I have mates that kite and windsurf and I am amazed at how blatantly stupid some people are.

The fact is, I don't care how long you have sailed/kited for, how good you think you are or how much you are driven by the unrelenting desire to have your photo taken by your bestie on the beach, use your brains when it comes to kiting or sailing safely. I was almost taken out twice today by two camera loving show-pony kiters who didn't have the brains or consideration to look behind or downwind from themselves before attempting tricks/aerials (that they weren't capable of pulling off) and wiping out right in front of me when I was going flat tack into a gybe. The two twats in question are lucky I was able to avoid them and their gear. Next time (and I hope there isn't one), they may not be so lucky.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate kite surfers at all. I just don't like inconsiderate, stupid tossers. I actually think some of the guys down there are really talented and I like watching their tricks, etc. Looks like great fun. Hell, I might even give it a go myself soon. Like any decent sailor/kiter, I make damn sure that, before I gybe, I take a quick look downwind to see if the area is clear and who I have to avoid. Only takes two seconds and it saves accidents and agro. If you can't do that, or you are too busy looking at your mate to see if he has his camera pointed at you, go kite/sail somewhere else or better still take up modeling or some other form of self gratification, like hanging out at the gym with your bisexual mates, staring at yourselves admiringly in the mirror! And don't be a tosser and kite or sail within two metres of me....totally unnecessary!

One other gripe......I was asked to move on today by some clown from Sweden....apparently I was getting in the way of his camera session. Well excuse me all over the place! To that idiot I would like to say this.....you would be well advised to show the locals some friggin respect, regardless of whether they kite or windsurf. Don't come to my country and tell me to go somewhere else. And I thought this country had a monopoly on tossers, apparently we are importing them now too!

Most of the people who sail/kite at Safety Bay are pretty cool. There are a few clowns though who need to pull their heads out of their a***s and show a bit of common sense and consideration for others.

On another note....Why the obsession with the flat water in "the pond" apart from the fact that it is close to the beach and cameras? I would have thought a good kitesurfer would not be bothered by a bit of chop.....would have thought it would make it a bit more fun. I mean, the whole bay is like a friggin swimming pool anyway! Gotta love the self-proclaimed hotshots who lay claim to "the pond" on the basis that their immense skills entitle them to exclusive use of the easiest sailing/kiting real estate in the area. If you are half as good as you think you are, why the hell do you need dead flat water? I am not suggesting that a beginner should kite there, and some good advice has been given above relating to the proximity to power lines, places to go etc. But to those particular hotshots.......just remember, you were once a pain in the a**e newbie at some point too......probably not that long ago!! So pull your head in!

Nuff said....

So much passion and thoughtful content here!

I have tried to point out the rules of the road at my local (Woodies) Most of the time I get the look of contempt "Who does this guy think he is".

Its tough trying to communicate with people who just want to get on the water and are not prepared to listen. This breeds frustration and like wise contempt.

The other day I had this french guy fresh off the plane cutting my me up continually short tacking me and just showing total disrespect.

Fact is most people are sound and prepared to listen if you speak to them with respect and a friendly attitude. If you just rant at them in the water you will likely get the same response. All the rants and feedback on here is not going to change the situation so what do we do?

fulcrum said...

I was almost taken out twice today by two camera loving show-pony kiters who didn't have the brains or consideration to look behind or downwind from themselves before attempting tricks/aerials (that they weren't capable of pulling off) and wiping out right in front of me when I was going flat tack into a gybe. The two twats in question are lucky I was able to avoid them and their gear. Next time (and I hope there isn't one), they may not be so lucky.

I wasn't there, but looking at photo's on SB there is evidence you may be talking about your own Brethren. As you stated, you have friends that indulge in both sports.

RayQ said...

Went down there yesterday, because a mate wanted to spend some time on flat water.
A wind surfer crashed into him, hitting him in the upper torso, he was unable to move for a while but eventually recovered.
It was the wind surfers fault, my mate had right of way. As an ex windsurfer, I could see that he clearly lacked the skills to sail his board in a competent manner , , which goes for about50% of the windsurfers.
Adding to this is the attitude of most of the wind surfers, they are going for speed runs through the kiters, expecting to have everyone move out of their way, like a game of bowling.

Yeah, we saw the aftermath of this collision and wondered what had happened.

As a poley, I am sometimes surprised at my fellow windsurfers and how they sail without looking around. I think 50% is a bit much, but I can see your point. I noticed two guys yesterday that seemed to head far downwind without looking out for sailors below them, which scares the crap out of you as you can't see them until they fly past.

As someone else said, there seem to be some kiters that only go a short distance from the sandbar and then tack/gybe, which makes it awkward getting past. If everyone did laps it would make things much easier and ease the congestion.

What's the nicest way to ask beginners that drop their lines across the bay to go somewhere else until they don't drop them?

Hey SammyJ there is still pleeeenty of water to use around where we teach, and at least we never teach in the pond...unlike some local kite schools...

^^^Cheers for that response Fulcrum, just wanted to make clear that none of us guys were down there. My comment about your Brethren was tongue in check, I know the family from my sailing days and now they do both. I would imagine they would be considerate as they are well aware of frustrations on both sides.

WA Surf said...

Hey SammyJ there is still pleeeenty of water to use around where we teach, and at least we never teach in the pond...unlike some local kite schools...

I don't think we should get into this whoever has logged into your WA Surf ID. A locals honest opinion on the impact of your school to us and the surrounding environment just won't be recieved well, would be way off topic too.

lots of rabbling going on... Just as many guilty cloud merchants as poleys at the pond, in general we all get along but theres a couple of twats on both sides.... If ur new to a spot or a new kiter its not hard at all to walk up to another kiter and ask what the go is, i do it everytime im at a new spot so that i dont look like a flat douche either.

might bring my euro mates down that day..wooooo

it would be so easy to put a sign with local rules on the beach.
There are already signs for the birds things, just staple a piece of paper with nice drawings underneath. and the job is done.

last time I went there, around 26th december, there was someone teaching his girlfriend how to kite in the pond, she was bodydragging with a RRD C kite around 6 years old 12m, and nobody said anything. something wrong there.

maybe, you should put the boat, back where it was in the pond to catch the bad guys.