Guidelines for Safe Kitesurfing
Guidelines and Information
Kitesurfing Safety
Just got a kite?
The first thing you must do is get a lesson from a qualified instructor. There are things you must know and safety, weather, and right of way rules. If you have not got a lesson and you want to kite you are putting yourself and others at great risk.
To read about what can happen when things go wrong firsthand click here pridebeforeafall.pdf
Incidents
If you have had an incident or have witnessed one anywhere in NSW involving a kite surfer whether the incident resulted in injury or not, we would like to hear about it ASAP. Please fill in this form below and send it back to us or at least contact us via email so we can discuss the incident. This also includes kite surfing behaviour that you consider to be inappropriate or dangerous or in breach of the SAFE kitesurfing guidelines. Contact us in confidence (your details will not be disclosed) at secretary@nswkba.com.au. Incident Form.
In conjunction with Surf Life Saving Australia we developed these guidelines for Clubbies to rescue kiters in trouble. Have a look so you know what to expect if you get into trouble and need help.
Kiteboards are treated as "vessels" by the NSW Maritime Authority, take a look at their guidelines for kiteboarding (links at the top of this page).
Kiting Locations and Safety
Just a friendly reminder that Kitesurfing is not permitted ‘at any time’ in Sydney Harbour and on Randwick or Waverly council beaches (i.e. including Bondi and Maroubra). Kitesurfing is prohibited even after or before the flags are up.
It is important that all kiters do their best to keep a positive perception of kitesurfing with other water/beach users and authorities.
Leashes
- When you purchased your kite did it come with a kite leash (we are not talking about a surfboard leash - those are dangerous)?
- The leash is an elasticated cord (not a bit of bungy) that also has a rope inside that prevents over stretch.
- One end will attach to your harness (not your spreader bar) and the other end to a flagging line on the kite (5th line or centre line)
- This is required for your safety and the safety of others, it will stop your kite flying away if you drop the bar or something breaks.
- Do NOT use a surfboard type leash for your kite leash, they can be dangerous and a surfboard leash is not strong enough and does not have the required releases.
Distance off the shore
- Kite surfers and their equipment, including kite and lines, must maintain a minimum distance of 30m from any persons or objects in the water at all times.
- Stay out of a designated surf zone. A designated surf zone is defined as the area extending 500 metres out from shore between surf patrol flags or signs.
- Stay out of a swimming area, which is defined as the area extending 60 metres out from shore between signs for swimmers.
Kite surfing and relevant marine legislation
The following snippet is also relevant on beaches where we share the water with swimmers, surfers and other vessels.
Kite surfing is an activity in which a person is situated on or over water on a board, a ski or skis or a vessel and the power of a controllable kite, or similar equipment, is used to propel the person across the surface of the water. A surf kite is classified as a vessel and therefore comes under NSW marine legislation.
Implications of classification as a vessel under marine legislation:
- Kite surfers and their equipment, including kite and lines, must maintain a minimum distance of 60m from any persons or non-powered vessels or 30m from powered vessels and any objects in the water or if that is not possible a safe distance.
- Stay out of a designated surf zone. A designated surf zone is defined as the area extending 500 metres out from shore between surf patrol flags or signs.
- Stay out of a swimming area, which is defined as the area extending 60 metres out from shore between signs for swimmers.
In practical terms this means that a kite surfer must be at least 60 metres from a swimming zone and at least 60 metres from a board rider or person on a surf ski, kayak or the like.
Lifejackets
- An appropriate lifejacket must be worn when the kite surfer is 400 metres or more from the nearest shore.
No-Go/Caution Areas
- Please refer to our Kite maps page and map downloads for all details on kite areas and no kite zones.
- Sydney Harbour is a no-go zone for kite surfing.
The no-go zone is an area between North and
South Head and the head of navigation on the
Parramatta River and includes Middle Harbour
and the Lane Cove River.
- At Pittwater off Station Beach – caution is
required as this is a seaplane landing and takeoff
area. Appropriate warning signs have been
established north and south of the seaplane
wharf.
Safety Tips
- Take extreme care when launching
- Keep a proper lookout at all times
- Kite surfers must maintain proper distances off when operating in the vicinity of surfers outside the designated surf zone
- Kite surfers must keep a proper lookout at all times for obstructions, other craft or swimmers
- Look all around - even behind you.
Give Way
- Power driven craft must give way to sailcraft such as kite surfers unless the kite surfer is in the process of overtaking. A kite surfer overtaking any other craft (power or sail) must keep well clear of the vessel being overtaken.
Kitesurfing is easy to practice safely with a little forethought and common sense. Ultimately we are responsible for minimizing the risk to ourselves, and others, which will help protect the future of this great sport - be very CLEAR about your responsibilities.
Before kiting make sure you check the coast is CLEAR
Conditions
- Wind strength
- Wind direction
- Always keep downwind area well clear
- Waves, tides & currents
- Consider possible changes
Look
- Before you launch, land, jump, jibe, etc
Equipment
- Always pre-flight check
- Use a kite leash
- Use a quick release on anything you hook into
- Practise using your safety systems regularly so that it becomes instinctive
- Never exceed manufacturers specifications
Attitude
- Always seek and listen to local advice
- Don't exceed your limitations
- Use judgement to prevent situations, not rely on skill to try and get out of it
Respect
- Others - be considerate and courteous to all other water and beach users
- The law
- Fellow kiters - follow right of way rules
- The environment
