slyfox said...
He's not talking about wind speed.
Thanks Sly - this has always been an issue for (some) kiters as well as for the yacht club - the five-knot rule applies within 50 meters of any "obstacle" such as a boat, a jetty , a ramp.
To quote the relevant regulations:
A kiter on the water is considered to be vessesl and as such must adhere to all applicable rules and regulations. It is the kiter's responsibility to know what these are.
On the water kiters are subject to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 (Commonwealth) and Victorian Marine Act 1988 (Vic).
Kiters must not exceed 5 knots within 200m of the shore,
50m of a jetty, 50m of a person, or 50m from another vessel (moored or underway) or any object (including buoys or pilings) in the water.
Exceptions: Within designated kiting zones, and some areas designated 5-knot zones which extend beyond the standard 200m from shoreline - these areas are usually marked and signposted and can be seen on the Parks Victoria or Department of Transport web sites.
It is our responsibility to "keep our sport clean" and I understand that the temptation to access flat water and to show off to the eager crowds on the jetty and shore is very powerful BUT can we afford to let a few spoil it for all of us??? Simply, it's breaking the rules. If you see a kiter doing the wrong thing say something!!!
