Western Australian kiteboarders will have to use life jackets when riding in unprotected waters more than 400 meters from the coastline.
The Department of Transport has released new guidelines for kiteboarding enjoying the pleasures of wind in the region. There are mandatory and recommended rules.
All kiteboarders and windsurfers will have to use personal flotation devices (PFD) if sailing more than 400 meters offshore in unprotected waters. This lifejacket can be a level 50S or higher.
There's more. Kiters and windsurfers must carry a distress flare kit or a registered EPIRB/personal locator beacon. If sailors get five nautical miles off the coast, they are also forced to carry parachute flares.
Because safety is never enough, the Western Australia's Department of Transport recommends all sailors wear a life jacket in the region, even if riding in protected waters close to the shore. Are these rules going to spread throughout the world?
Remember always to check your equipment prior to going out. Use equipment suitable for the weather conditions, have a way of communicating emergencies, and use a safety release system.
Take a look at the self-rescue and pack down kiteboarding guide, and learn the kiteboarding rules and safety sailing procedures before hitting the water.