jaymac said...


It has established a Marine Park in the area, and from July 1st 2008 prohibited all power craft from speeds above 8 knots to protect seals and bird life. Non-motorised vessels and craft are encouraged to comply with this limit.

"encouraged to comply." that sounds as though sail powered vessels are exempt from this law, but are being asked nicely to stay away.

Correction, the purple area and the green within it is the 8kt zone.

Thanks for the heads up, I had seen the new markers but had no idea what implications they might have.

Hey jaymac, is there any literature or photos re the world speed trials in 84? That is amazing, I would have never pictured that.

It might have been even earlier, 1982 perhaps when the Safety Bay Yacht club set up a 500 m course between Penguin Island and the point, the sand bar was well established that year giving smooth water. Americas Cup Sailor Andy White's, son came second. The outright world Speed sailing record was 31 knots at that time I think, so Peter Dans came very close to in setting the Australian record.
Cannot find any more details at the moment, it was written up in the Magazines so I might be able to find something.

Woodman Point was in the second installment of Blown Away called Powerglide. It featured that speed trials Laurie where Fred Heywood broke a class record. Something like the 8-10 square metre sail size....?
A certain P. Dans was in it too

why does this happen always in australia we get thease dumb laws they must get there ideas from the U.K. i bet in the uk you have to pay someone to use a beach and i bet they have bans everywhere.

australia sucks

tom444 said...

australia sucks

Thankfully, overwise we would fall orffff

Bloody hell Jay - you are still alive!
The trials you ran was January 1983 I think! I'll have a look at the engraving on the Suunto handheld compass that I won and still use - 25+ years ago!!!

A few facts re your alarmist thread!

-CALM ceased to exist as of 1 July 2006. It is now the Department of Environment and Conservation [DEC].

-The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park was created by the WA government in 1990 and the managment plan was released in October 2007.

-The plan included a recommendation to limit motorised vessel speed to 8 knots in Shoalwater Bay due to the significant wildlife values and the risks presented to these from vessel strikes - there have been verified incidents with both penguins and sea lions.

-It is important to note that responsibility for managing vessels and vessel speed rests with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure [DPI] not DEC.

-Any vessel speed restriction will be implemented under DPI administered legislation. As I understand it the Navigable Waters Regulations currently apply only to powered vessels but DPI is reviewing this in an effort to better manage wind driven vessels, particularly kites.

-No new restrictions [in Shoalwater Bay] have been put in place by DPI to date. DEC is currently negotiating with them as to the closure of the Shoalwater Bay water ski area as a first step.

Cheers
25

Yes still alive and still sailing....badly!

Thanks for the clarification Pedro, feel even happier about sailing thru Shoalwater for a few hours today, but I guess there is some writng on the wall.

The July 2008 aspiration [for the implementation of a 8 knot powered vessel speed limit in Shoalwater Bay] has clearly not been realised!

tom444 said...

australia sucks

I agree Willy Wet: just leave the place then.