TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT YOUR OBJECTION TO NSW MARITIME'S PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE YOU TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET IN ALL OCEAN WATERS AT ALL TIMES.
GO TO THEIR SITE OR EMAIL THE NSW MARITIME OFFICIAL BELOW:
Based on feedback we received from members, and from discussion and debate amongst the Committee, (and from feedback on the SeaBreeze forums) the NSWKBA Committee has submitted a Position Paper to NSW Maritime.
Response to NSW Maritime PFD Proposal _FNAL1.pdf
The NSW Government press release is here:
www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html
The full Discussion Paper is here:
www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html
NSWKBA Members are encouraged to go to the NSW Maritime site BEFORE 8 JANUARY 2010 and submit your own individual response at:
www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html
Or, alternately, you can email
Tim Woolnough
Research Officer
Recreational Boating and Regional Services
NSW Maritime
Tim.Woolnough@maritime.nsw.gov.au
The more people that bother to object to kiters being classified as everyday boaters, the better the chance to avoid this regulation.
Take the few minutes to have your say else Queensland will be next.....
c,mon people we have to band together on this issue. It takes 5mins to have your say. Here is a sample of my response:
kitesurfers often need to dive under waves. A lifejacket makes this impossible, which makes it more dangerous for the kitesurfer as they could be hit by a large wave.
kitesurfers often use surfboards which offer superior flotation to lifejackets.
Kitesurfers learn how to self rescue using the kite as a flotation device in their first lesson.
A life jacket would limit a kitesurfers manourerability, which would make the kite harder to control, resulting in more danger to the kitesurfer and other water users.
The proposal to make the wearing of a lifejacket mandatory for all kitesurfers is ill informed and dangerous. NO expert in kitesurfing would ever agree that this proposal is a good idea. This rule would have the opposite effect to what it is designed for. I am a very safety consious individual and I have a passion for kitesurfing. Under no circumstances would I ever risk my own safety by wearing a lifejacket while kitesurfing. For the saftey of all kitesurfers please exempt kitesurfers from this proposal
page 6 is where you need to make your comment. Don't forget to hit the submit button on page 8.
