Select to expand quotegreenleader said..
Just to add to the story Maritime Safety Queensland have declassified windsurfers as sailing vessels even though we are an Olympic sailing class and we are now "watersports toys" like surfboards or kayaks or skis so they don't have to deal with our concerns.....sorry wrong Government department to complain to..... 
No complaint was lodged, just an eyewitness report that will be used with the original incident report. This was to ensure that the operator included all the facts and to clarify the real issues being investigated.
A bit more - www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes
A NOVICE jetski rider has been handed a nominal fine of $500 for running down a champion windsurfer, with the Southport magistrate laying more blame on the Gold Coast jetski hire industry.
Melbourne-born medical scientist Christopher Gohr was on holidays when he hired the personal watercraft for an afternoon of fun on the Broadwater that turned to tragedy.
Two-time Queensland windsurfing champion Linda Pesschier was hit on February 28 when Mr Gohr failed to see her in his path.
She was rushed to hospital suffering a severely fractured leg and a cut to her face and has since been told she may not walk for a year.
Her horrific accidents came almost one year since Coroner John Hutton recommended a massive overhaul of the rental jetski industry after the death of an Indian tourist.
Mr Hutton recommended that legislation be developed including that all hired craft be mechanically speed-limited but, 12 months on, no legislation has been passed.
Magistrate Brian Kilmartin said Ms Pesschier's injuries were a further wake-up call for the industry.
He noted that Jetski Safaris at Marina Mirage were currently under investigation by water authorities and said they should shoulder the lion's share of the blame.
Magistrate Brian Kilmartin accepted that Gohr had not been acting stupidly or recklessly but was simply negligent in knowing where to look to avoid Ms Pesschier.
''It seems to be most unfortunate that he has been singled out for the blame on this,'' he said.
Gohr pleaded guilty to unsafe operation of a vessel causing grievous bodily harm and was extremely remorseful.
He was fined but no conviction was recorded.
We should think about how jet skis travel in groups. Dodging one is easy enough but when a group of them travel together it is harder to get out of the way.
I'm quite happy for us not to be classified or regulated in any way, therefore we can peacefully enjoy our sport free of any regulation and simply use our common sense and our better judgement. I am concerned that if we make poor decisions, create conflict and end up being the focus of press articles that we may find ourselves regulated. In no way does my statement relate to the poor bloke being run over by the tour jet ski.
Hi Mark, If I was sailing nearby, I personally would treat a group of jet skis the same as a large vessel and simply avoid them. Especially if I knew they were on a tour and possibly inexperienced. My personal philosophy is that the moral high ground doesn't help you if you are dead so I'll just avoid the interaction.
