I agree with lostinlondon that the boat idea as an answer to St Kilda's problems is not a solution.
Considering that Botany bay is closer in size to Corio bay, (where using a boat is way more doable) the size and chop in Port Phillip bay, plus shipping, Yacht traffic etc. simply make teaching from boats based anywhere near St Kilda, not feasible.
same as many Coastal spots. eg: Lennox heads, anyone want to try a boat based lesson off shore in 18kts?. or even Torquay (pt Danger)? Just not doable.
It is up to the users of St Kilda to sort this out amongst themselves. They have the current local knowledge. Lets see if KBV can arbitrate a solution.
Also agree with lostinlondon. Signage etc very important and if a well marked area for various activities are there, sooner than later, people using the area will get in a routine when going to StK.
I do have a question for KBV. When do you propose to start this seperate forum, and once started, if active, how long do you think it will take to reach a solution?
I don;t kite at StK anymore due to the overcrowdedness, but on the few occasions that I have, it has been awsome, it is a great spot, so if a solution can be reached, it will be great.
The planned forum will be face-to-face meeting with all concerned - most likely sometime when the majority can attend and when it doesnt impact on kiting time and on times when the schools need to be available to their students.
So far very few interested parties have notified their interest - if you wish to be invited please PM your real name and your email address so that we can keep ypou informed of the date, time and venue.
I still dont get it, now the schools want us to tell them in person that we dont think its safe for them to have lessons restricting access to the entire west beach.
Why dont they take on board the suggestions put up by saffer and others and do something about it? It really doesnt seem hard to me, although it would effectively mean less lessons in the water.
I can feel a letter to the council / parks vic is in order
Lots of smoke and mirrors ( might have to do with this being the busiest tine of year = $$$$$)
..........This issue was raised by Saffer over a month ago and still no outcome... It may be time for "the people " to take back control. It is clear that the schools are not that willing and kbv have a conflict of interest ( with this matter ) . I suggest that saffers plan be implemented ( perhaps a new post with a copy of the plan titled new st kilda rules should be put in the general forum section. Any instructors using the corridor or the tip of the mini sand spit ( the worst spot for kites at 12 ) can expect a mouthfull of profanities and abuse perhaps also a constant rail spray will also be a deterent 
.
Aweful to think that this may be the only way to get the point accross
It sux that its all getting pretty nasty! In my experience kiters have always gotten along pretty well whether they are a familiar face or first time users of a beach. I'm sure on the next good weekend of kiting when most regular riders are down at st kilda we could all get together and talk about a solution. How do you expect to get a result like this? Just think how much we would regret not fixing the problem now if in a couple of years time they start banning kiting on some of our favourite beaches...
Please see the latest post on this on the KBV web site - headline about St Kilda congestion.
An email was also sent out today to all contacts (members and non-members) on the KBV database and a message (to set up a meeting with us all) also sent to the three schools on West Beach.
Aiming for early one Sunday morning at the beach. Please keep a watch on the KBV site for final arrangements.
Goal is to agree on a solution, then to post it here and on the KBV site for final comment, and then to go to the council and Parks Vic to get signposts etc.
This all sounds good. Can schools and others please encourage learners to avoid the area outlined in the attached photo. Is this area within consideration for the upcoming discussion?
If you classify yourself as anything other than advanced, then stay out of the kiddy pool... especially on a busy day. It's the same as Woodies offshore or Safety Bay's pond; fall into the pattern, do your tricks in the primo area then get back out.
If your not tricking and just mowing the lawn then it's best to just stay away.
So when a SUPER advanced rider like myself rocks up do guys like you koma have to stay out of my way ?
Learn to share ya selfish sods - it is a suburban beach and as such will always be crowded, if you want miles to yourself go for a drive !
With respect to the black area, I see that there are an increasing number of learners using this area. That is people who are still crashing their kites and not totally on top of ensuring that their kites are out of others way. Including a few young kids getting a lesson. I was just hoping instructors and others might gently encourage learners to give that area a miss until they are confident of not becoming a hazard. Further I would like this area included in KBV discussions with Kiters as I am hopeful that Parks Vic and the RMYS will not have their way and have Kites banned or RMYS build into this area.
The problems it seems is that the areas in the Bays and nearby coast which allow wind and swell (waves) but where chop is restricted are few and far between. St Kilda Pier offers one of those rare spots. I'm not sure Parks Vic, RMYS or others fully appreciate this. The view seems to be that there is plenty of water in the Bay so go there. The argument that the sailing cadets are being harassed by kiters doesn't hold much water as this area is generally utilised when the wind is in the 20-30kn range which is way beyond what the cadets are able to sail in. Crashing into moored yachts of course doesn't help our argument.
OK - latest from the Schools is as follows: two of the three schools will be available to meet with St Kilda kiters but we need to meet this Sunday or we have to postpone until after the kiting Nationals.
Meeting is likely to be on Sunday at 8:30 am (yup early start but important enough to make the effort?) - location yet to be nominated - if you are interested please PM me your email address (if you have not done so already) and I will make sure you are informed of the final meeting arrangements (will also be announced here).
I am not sure it is realistic to expect an outcome from, the meeting - the three schools will probably need to agree on their response but at least there will be a chance to justify the community views and hear the schools views too.
Confirmation of the meeting of St Kilda kiters and the Kiting Schools:
9am, Sunday morning (7th Feb) - West Beach Pavilion
If you wish to contribute in a constructive manner and hear the schools out as well please join us...
This is not restricted to KBV members - all welcome.
Good on ya KBV for taking notice of this thread and actually organising a meeting to try and sort the problem. I hope the meeting is constructive and some good outcomes are reached, or at least the cogs are in motion. Sorry I will be in NZ for this meeting, but look forward to finding out how it has worked out when I get back to Melbourne. Peace
Thanks for everyone that attended this morning and gave feedback. KBV will be posting on www.kbv.org.au the minutes and the first step, that being the buoy in the water that lessons stay downwind of will be implemented this morning and we will take care of this daily in any S winds.
If anything spoken of in the meeting is coming up or not being followed please let the school managers know directly on the day so we can be aware of get on top of any issues you as kiters might be having.
As we as schools generally won't partake in seabreeze sessions please feel free to follow the advice on KBV website which includes direct emails to the schools.
Looking forward to some good winds this arvo and enjoying the great atmosphere St Kilda Beach offers!
Quick thankyou to Steffan from KBV for organising yesterdays meeting. The St K kite schools for attending + all the local kiters who managed to drag themselves up in time to join in the discussion.
Cheers, Rich
On 7th February, Sunday morning, at 9am only the most dedicated are up and about except when it comes to Kiteboarding. Amongst the early breakfast groups at the St Kilda West Beach Pavilion were a group with a mission: discuss how to address the issue of Kiter congestion at West Beach.
Present at the meeting were all three St Kilda kiting schools, Kiteboard Victoria [KBV] and twelve other interested Kiters who wanted to contribute to the discussion.
The schools described the "circular mode" they all use. This involves a circulation of students downwind in the water and upwind along the beach (see diagram below). Kiters suggested how this could be retained while addressing some of the congestion concerns. The outcome was agreement by the schools to trial the following:
***The schools will continue to use the circulation mode but an access corridor upwind of the students (between the kiddies pool and student practice area will allow Kiters (i.e. non-students) to launch upwind of students. The corridor is roughly designated as the area upwind of a line from the West Beach pavilion decking to a bouy moored at the end of the corridor.
*** When prevailing winds cause the occasional encroachment of circulating students into the corridor, Kiters could join the circulation pattern but would be given launch priority over students.
*** Kiters will also be given clearance to land providing they signaled their intent to instructors who are easily identifiable by their coloured t-shirts. Kiters are requested to refrain from transitions within the student water practice and circulation areas (i.e. to avoid the student areas unless landing).
*** The student water practice area (kite launch/relaunch) would be moved to the downwind end of the circulation pattern thus relieving some of the congestion at the upwind end.
*** An area (roughly the quarter of the beach nearest the kiddies pool (also allowing for the two beach volleyball court areas, see diagram) will be used only for rigging and storing kites. Lines are to be wound in when the kites are not being rigged or launched.
*** The rest of the beach (downwind of the rigging area) will be used for student beach-practice so as to avoid students crashing kites onto kites being rigged or stored.
The schools agreed that they would continue to educate students on the general kiting rules (kite-high, clearance, right of way, etc) as well as general beach/water etiquette and awareness of other beach and water users.
A final request from the schools is that any Kiters who notice instructors not adhering to the agreed trial, or who experience any difficulty with the arrangement, should immediately contact the relevant school to discuss the matter. If this is not possible at the time then the schools welcome your email communication to any of the following addresses:
GoKiting: info@gokite.com.au
Kite Republic: info@kiterepublic.com.au
Melbourne Kiteboarding Academy: info@melbournekiteboarding.com
Kiters are also requested to forward this information or mention it to other Kiters who may be new to the beach or be unaware of the agreed arrangement. This information will be posted on the KBV site and Seabreeze. If possible we will also try to get this information posted at the beach.
We thank all who took the time to contribute.
Wasn't able to make it on weekend but looks like a good result !
Well done to all involved ! 
I couldn't attend but it sounds positive. Well done to KBV for organising the meeting.
To me looking at that picture it looks like the schools now "own" the beach and others have to carefully thread between them and only access via one small path. That is something I will have problems with. Thank god its still a free world.
In traffic when learning to drive a car a school car has no more right of road
than others. Something to think of?
I believe it is a positive step, which was definately needed. But still as a relitive newcomer to this sport i will not be going to kite at St kilda any time soon. Although you are upwind of the beginners, with my skill level it would not be long until i find myself in the middle of them.
I agree with the person who's stated that it looks like the schools now own the beach by making it official like this all thats changed is that they have right of way over the rest of us. On days of high traffic getting back to the access corridor will just mean there is a larger amount of traffic in that area and on some occasions people may need to ride between the boats to access that spot when coming ashore (which will lead to other issues). Why can't the kite schools operate further down the northern end of the beach with some of their space in front of that vegetation area? Or maybe it is time for them to take the next step and uses boats and headsets like someone else suggested
