quote:
Originally posted by WA66
What happened to the gentlemans agreement that the Windsurfers would stay on the Bent St side of the sand bar and the kiters on the yacht club side, out of each others way?
I've been over to Safety Bay a few times over the last 3 years. I went there with Go Windsurfing and they told me about the "gentleman's agreement" that the kiters stay to one side out at the point and the learner windsurfers the other.
The problem I see with this is that there is no way you would know that unless someone told you. When I was there some of the guys would take the time to talk to the kiters, but you can understand why a kiter new to the area wouldn't have any idea about this agreement. They see this nice shallow area and think it's a great place to sail. They are probabably wondering why people are aiming for them, but don't realise why.
I don't think they realise how much of a risk they can be to a windsurfer and themselves. On the other hand I have been sailing in that area with some kiters there as well. The one's that know what they are doing and are in control don't cause me any problem. Once you start to realise that they know what they're doing then you forget all about them. It's the one's that don't seem to be too aware that are the problem. There are windsurfers there that have the same problem, but they are easier to avoid.
Maybe we need a sign that says 'cool people' to the right and others to the left? That'll work!
