Safety Issues

Geraldton Windsurfing Club

Advice for Safety

AKSA encourages new comers to kite surfing to take a minimum 2 hours of lessons prior to sailing solo. Your safety, the safety of others and ongoing access to beaches and rivers relies on knowing how to control your kite on the beach and on the water. Some beaches have already been closed for the summer months due to irresponsible kiters. View our safety guidelines for Coronation Beach Safety Guidelines. Sailing safely is in everyones interests.

Minimize Risk

• Don't assume the public is aware of the inherent dangers involved in operating a kite
• Kite surfers are fully responsible for their own safety and for the safety of others in their vicinity.
• At all times exercise common sense. If in doubt wait, think, ask another kiter and if necessary pack up.
• Know your limits - assess the conditions to avoid getting into dangerous situations.
• Select a safe, clear launch site with consistent side or side-on-shore winds.
• Do not launch from or land on a crowded beach.
• Make a routine check before every launch. Check kite, bridle, lines and harness. A kite with tangled or twisted lines can take off and be uncontrollable.
• Always use a safety leash.
• Always prevent kites from inadvertent launching on the beach by weighting with sand.
• Never leave a kite unattended in the self-launch position unless you intend to launch immediately.
• Always give way to the public on the beach.
• Always announce when you are about to launch so people are aware of this fact and are prepared to move in the event of a gust or problem.
• Disable unattended kites by removing one of the lines, placing the kite leading edge down facing the wind and weighting with sand or a board.
• When launching, leave at least 50m clear beach downwind of you.
• Avoid kite surfing near any airport or runway.
• Stay clear of overhead power lines and similar structures.
• Always maintain a 'safety buffer zone' when on the water and on the beach.
• Keep at least one line's length (30m) away from windsurfers and other water users.
• Incoming kite surfer to give way to outgoing kite surfer.
• When passing another kite surfer in the opposite direction, the windward kite surfer is to fly high and the downwind kite surfer to fly low in order to avoid contact.
• Give way to all water users especially sailing boats involved in racing.
• Don't assume the public automatically associates you with your kite (that is flying downwind of you).
• Don't jump within 50m upwind of another water user.
• Don't use lines longer than necessary. Ask you're an instructor before changing standard lines.
• Return the kite to neutral as quick as you can after a crash - lines in the water are trouble waiting to happen
• Don't kite without public liability insurance - comprehensive insurance is only $50.00 per year