Park's Victoria

Why do you think windsurfing should be banned? What is wrong with windsurfing that anybody would want to ban it? The only people talking about bans and restrictions are some of you. Why are you clowns so hysterical about nothing?

The new laws change nothing. You never could do more than 5 knots within 200m of the shore. 200m is no real imposition. The breakwaters at Sandringham and St Kilda are more than 400m from the beach.

I dont think it should be banned, but i have seen how hard PARK VIC came down on mountain bike riding and i know it might happen with us windsurfers too at the city beaches.. if PARK VIC had there way they would love to ban kiting, windsurfing, mountain bike riding out right. I dont ride mtbs any more, cause this is one of the reasons, they stufft all the trails..

calm down

No one wants to ban anything. Nothing will change.

Everyone needs to carry on respecting swimmers and not being cocks

I wanted to clarify that we are not sitting on our hands on this one... One thing we can draw from all of this is that we all essentially want the same thing; that is, the ability to enjoy our awesome sport without too many restrictions... It's great that we are all so passionate about windsurfing and what is happening with regards to PV. I attended the 'Your Bay Your Say' last night and the main focus was about foreshore activities and upgrades. It also included discussions about the new boating zones and WV was there to represent the Victorian windsurfing community. (See another post for more detail.)

With regards to recent feedback we received from PV, we sent a response to PV yesterday morning (17/11/10). The response included clarification areas we can safely and legally sail, as well as reiteration for the regulations to consider our beginner windsurfers progressing to the short board side of sailing. It also included statements about how the sport of windsurfing is growing, and that on some of the beaches outlined to PV in our last meeting (i.e. Rye in Winter), that windsurfers can out number kite boards 50 to 1! . We have also requested clarification on a number of items. Including the kite board zone, as there is conflicting information on the PV website and within their communications.

We have asked for another meeting to continue our discussions and intend to pass on any comments, ideas and opinions that have been generated via this post.

It's still not over and I don't see any fat ladies ready to start singing!

If you are WV member and I would like to see a copy of the response PV? Please email president@wv.org.au

To be completely honest, Marine Safety and the Police don't really think about windsurfing or kitesurfing much at all. We are seriously not on their radar. As long as we don't bring ourselves to their attention too much they will continue to not care.

The way we bring ourselves to their attention, in order, is: a) provide corpses for them to fish out of the water, b) hurt other people, c) make a nuisance for long enough and loud enough that they can't ignore us.

The review of marine safety regulations does two things: 1) a general update and simplifcation, and 2) the biggie, provides for uniform alcohol and anti-hoon laws for boating.

Under the new laws pissed people get busted. In the past you could be booked if you were pissed and driving, but not booked if you were anchored in the middle of the bay and everyone was pissed.

Under the new laws the water police can confiscate your boat if you are hooning.

Footnote on corpses: Water police really, really hate fishing dead people out of the water. The only thing they hate more than that is fishing dead people with no life jackets on. They quite like rescuing people, especially if the rescuee is well equipped and has their **** together.