Important Safety Information for Mana Channel

I have been contact by the Greater Wellington Regional Council about water safety between kiters and other vessels at Mana channel.

Keep in mind that launches, keel boats and all other vessels have “right of way” whilst transiting the Paremata Channel. All vessels transiting the Paremata channel should maintain their course and speed (5 knots) to maintain steerage and avoid going aground.

Kite surfers need to maintain a distance of at least 50 metres from any vessel transiting the Paremata channel or slow to 5 knots. Either party must at all times avoid collision at all costs regardless of whom has the right of way.

Below I have included correspondence with the Greater Wellington Regional Council: Harbour Ranger

We want everyone to have fun, just not at the expense of yours or someone else’s safety!

It has come to our attention that the Paremata channel is being used by Kite Boarders and concerns have been raised by vessels transiting this area due to them being constrained by draught and tides associated with this particular body of water making steerage difficult and kite boarders coming too close for comfort.

• A friendly reminder that Launches, keel boats and all other vessels have “right of way” whilst transiting the Paremata Channel. All vessels transiting the Paremata channel should maintain their course and speed (5 knots) to maintain steerage   and to avoid going aground.

• Kite surfers need to maintain a distance of at least a 50 metres from any vessel transiting the Paremata channel or slow to 5 knots.

• Either party must at all times avoid collision at all costs regardless of whom has the right of way.

Here is link we have created to help educate Kite boarders to their requirements. Please feel free to share the link, we appreciate your efforts.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=535908600374050

It will only take a kite boarder to fall off his board in front of a power driven vessel with the lines in the water to create a significant hazard, so any distance greater than 50 metres is better and going astern of boats even better.

I have often wondered about the ‘200m 5 knot boat rule’ and how that applies to kites. I was interested to find out that this has been removed for kiters, see the Bylaws relating to speed below.

The last thing we want is to inconvenience other riders or for there to be an accident. A bad reputation could result in further regulations being put in place.

Stay safe out there.