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 !

I had three buzzing around me for an hour or so the other day 10 to 15 metres away .......one commented that it's nice out here I replied yes it WAS very nice out here till u came along! Smelly noisy pests

NNSUP said..

Chris, Maritime love getting these guys. Speak to Maritime before hand as they'll readily give you their number and call them as soon as these guys appear. Photo evidence and boating ID is all you need. Maritime on Pittwater have issues regularly with unlicensed PWC riders.......they all come from "The Shire" though

Thanks mate.

I just bought a Lifeproof mobile phone cover so can have my phone on me with the number ready to call....beautiful huh ?

...that damn Shire crowd. Lol.

I was swimming the other day out at Merimbula Bar and pushing my 2 young groms into waves on their boards when one of these jet ski morons started buzzing us.
At one point he came within about 10m of me and my little bloke at sat there waiting for a wave, he then took off flat out spraying us on the way past.
He came back to do it again and I covered the little guys ears and gave him a full on serve about proximity to swimmers.
He had no idea what I was on about but he took off pretty quick and didn't come back

Bump.

Well played, and a great result, they sure got close, probably the same turkey buzz'n my wife at Yowie this morning as well whilst she was out on the SUP 2nd time and freaking out, did you call the general hotline or do you have the boating services officer's mobile..?