Members of WNSW should be aware of what's occurring with the RMS & windsurfing in Sydney harbour.
Below is an email from the WNSW President to the committee & also an email received from AS. It's important that this is resolved in our favour but it's clear that it will be a journey. If one can't foil in or across Sydney shipping & ferry channels, it's a very small body of water.
"Hi all, After receiving this email today from Australian Sailing, I called RMS. Three windsurfers have been issued warnings for sailing in shipping channels in Sydney Harbour. RMS says there is not a crackdown on windsurfers, but compliance work was carried out on a day when there wasn't much traffic so the officer was able to stop the windsurfers safely! I spoke with Warwick Scott, the Senior Safety Officer, outlining the discrepancies in the current rules that don't allow, for example, foiling windsurfers to race Moths in certain areas of the harbour. I plan to have more discussions next week with RMS about the way forward. WNSW has been lobbying to have the legislation changed to allow windsurfers to cross shipping channels just like the Optis and SUPs, and we will continue to do so. But this is a long-term strategy. In the short term, there may be an option to seek an exemption to this legislation for certain events under an aquatic licence. I am hoping to discuss this option further with the Manager of Operations for the Harbour next week. Warwick was very helpful, and my impression is they are willing to work with us to improve the situation. In the meantime it's important to obey the current rules. After an increase in boating deaths in the state, NSW Sports Minister Andrew Constance currently has a three-month zero tolerance policy on dangerous / illegal behaviours in place. So it's best not to push it right now.
Cheers,
Lissa McMillan President WNSW
From: Craig Ferris [mailto:craig.ferris@sailing.org.au]
Sent: Friday, 25 September 2020 9:10 AM
To: Craig Ferris
Subject: Reminder for Kite/Windsurfers on Sydney Harbour The Acting Manager for Sydney Harbour at NSW Maritime has contacted Australian Sailing with the request for sailors to be reminded of the restrictions on Kitesurfing and Sailboarding (Windsurfing) on the waters of Port Jackson/Sydney Harbour under the Marine Safety General Regulation 2016 - Schedule 5 -Waters in which kitesurfing and sailboarding prohibited. This includes kite surfing or windsurfing of the foiling variety.
