Monkey76
Have you seen or crossed Currumbin bar, it changes on a daily basis, there is no main channel to stay out of for surfers. It is like Coles carpark at times in the summer, and as Cobiaman said, once you are committed in a boat on the bar you gotta go. We cannot duck dive the next set in a boat. I am always vigilant when crossing there, but boats must have right of way !
Monkey,
I Know the situation is a difficult one... my gripe is you cant see a surfer in low light or sometimes in broken water. If they cant be seen then they leave themselves open to injury and possibly death.
Surfers think we should slow to 6 knots when within 30m of them, Whats your opinion on this when crossing a bar with a normal swell of 1-2m running?
Garry
Retired Honda Master Tech
like in byron, horn blows surfers are aware boat is crossing and its time to be vigilant! this can work and has proven to work at one of the most busiest surf breaks in the country.
and I surf and i would not expect a boat to slow to 6knots in a dangerous situation like a bar crossing and especially at the alley, in saying that i own an offshore boat and understand the situation and would look to keep an eye on anyone about to cross the break/bar. I enjoy watching them cross so would never be in the current channel or crossing track/route,
I also dont paddle across the seaway cos its stupid and too far! i take my boat or a mates ski
Originally Posted by monkey76
If I'm required to put navigation lights on a kayak for travelling at first light and at dusk, then these surfers crossing either the seaway or any passage of water, should do the same - if you say this is too much trouble or you can't do it - STIFF SH!T. Surfer basher I hear you say .....quite possibly and not afraid to say it. I hear you say common sense should prevail for boaties - so what about you guys/gals paddling in low light? Now about boaties heading back into the bar....How can the skipper see anything on the other side of a wave???? How many times should one boat sound this horn????
Surfers don't need to cross the seaway as posted on page 1 - they would like to.
I've seen a surf taxi operate at the seaway. It's the perfect solution for those wishing to surf the otherside!
Its scary going out the seaway sometimes in the predawn, surfers paddling across to Straddy, the taxi costs 5 bucks! I also surf over there sometimes but take the boat its just to dangerous i think.. at currumbin how can you slow down to 6knots when traversing the bar and swell?? There isn't a solution really its just the way it is and there will be accidents from time to time.. I just cant believe more people don't get run over in the seaway..
Compulsory drug tests for any surfer wanting to paddle across
That should half the numbers crossing.
From the GC bulletin
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html
Surf safety on Currumbin Alley agenda
BURLEIGH MP Michael Hart is organising a surf safety summit to find solutions to the clashes between surfers and boaties at Currumbin Alley.
Mr Hart is organising the meeting for next month and has vowed to ensure senior representatives from the Department of Transport and water police are there, along with the Member for Currumbin, Jann Stuckey.
''I understand that people are very frustrated and that we need to move quickly on this,'' he said.
The idea for a surf safety summit was put forward by Mr Hart when Surfrider Foundation treasurer Chris Butler tried to hijack a meeting on Monday, held to discuss dredging of Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks.
Mr Butler said yesterday surfers were sick of the Government passing the buck on the problems.
''No one wants to take responsibility for what is happening at Currumbin Alley,'' he said.
''Jann Stuckey accused the previous government of having its head in the sand on the issues.
''But she has done the same thing.
''So I hope this meeting will be the beginning of finding some solutions for the whole thing.''
Ms Stuckey had also agreed to a meeting with Mr Butler on Friday.
Gold Coast Surf Council co-chairman Brad Farmer said the summit offered the chance to finally put some solutions in place, but the right people needed to be at the meeting or there was a risk it could just be a talkfest.
''The people at the meeting need to be senior enough to make decisions or there is a risk it could be a waste of everyone's time,'' he said.
Local councillor Chris Robbins said action was needed.
Surfers are lobbying for more patrols by water police or Queensland Transport officers to stop boaties exceeding the six-knot limit, and have suggested boats could be made to sound horns when coming out of the Currumbin Creek mouth.
If all boats towed a couple lures across the seaway and bars, this problem would go away.
A Proud Member of
"The Rebel Alliance"
Hello All,
please take a deep breath and act very carefully on this issue.
I am a regular user of Currumbin as a boatie and as a swimmer, I don't surf, too old and infirm.
There can be no doubt that trouble is brewing.
Many surfers that I know say "Ban the boats".
Ask yourself the question, how many boaties and how many surfers?
If push comes to shove, boaties are going to loose simply because they are outnumbered.
Do not seek confrontation on this issue.
Very good point Crocodile. The alley is primarily a surf spot but makes for quicker access to Palmie for boaties. I am afraid if push come to shove the surfers would out number the boaties and cause grief. They would have a pretty good argument that there are other options for boaties like the purpose built seaway or tweed bar for them to access the ocean. I think the horn idea has merit but you will never stop beginner surfers from getting confused and in the way.
Have been following this thread with interest as I still enjoy a paddle on the mal at the Alley and spend lots of time crossing bars in boats, so can see it from both sides. Crocodile and thelump seem to be hitting the mark nicely and confrontation usually ends in one party worse off than the other.
Clearly Currumbin Alley is a popular waterway and as a bar only offers limited access and is subject to constant change. My my pet hate is rules being put in place to favour one conflicting sector, usually to the disadvantage of the other and that seems to happen too often when Councillors and pollies weigh into arguments they have no expertise with.
The risks to surfers and the consequences for boaties as a result of a collision with surfers are high and as a responsible boat operator I would be careful and do everything reasonable to make sure I could clearly see everyone in my path if heading out through there. In the event of a collision in a low light situation while heading out where boat speed is involved in chopping surfer while avoiding a wave, I would hate to be the driver. Conversely I have seen some jet ski riders and boat operators coming home to the entrance virtually charging through surfers, giving all of us a bad name in the eyes of surfers and am amazed there haven't been more incidents.
A steady approach making plenty of noise and sitting the boat high on the back of a swell where the surfers can see you and the boat driver has a good view ahead to make informed decisions would be far better.
Perhaps a code of practice for both parties to use the area collaboratively would be a good starting point rather than a confrontation leading to bans or way over the top rules and regulations .
that's my soap box for today.
Cheers
Bill
Put up signs saying "surfers and boaties use this area at own risk"
Then walk away, let people take responsibility for their own welfare and make their own decisions knowing the risks.
Otherwise its just a bitchfight over pseudo-ownership of public usage when everyone has rights.
Make people responsisble for their own safety, instead of wanting others to grant them exclusivity and/or immunity from risk.
Surfers also dont want beach fisho's in the good breaks. Boaties dont want to endanger their own safety to be careful of surfers. Will always be accidents, will always be whingers, and will always be those wanting zero risk and ownership of shared public space.
Fight the fights that can be won...wont matter what the solution there will still be accidents anyway.
If you arnt happy dont go there.
The Gold Coast Bulletin story is only telling one side of the issue.I have been crossing this bar on and off for 25 years now.
A quote from that article .
'Gold Coast Surf Council chairman Dan Ware said the Government continued to sit on its hands and do nothing, while surfers reported a near-miss at the popular spot every week. Everyone who surfs at Currumbin Alley has a story to tell,'' he said.' Well Dan here is a story from the other side of the fence which I posted about some years ago.
Crossing back in just North of the Alley we were sitting on the shoulder of a largish cresting wave and saw a surfer to our left. We both made eye contact and I thought great he knows I am here now. Next thing that surfer stood up and catches the wave I am sitting on then wipes out in front of the boat and disappeares in the white water. Pulled the engine out of gear and only just spotted him off to our side as the wave behind us caught up. We were able to power on in luckily and avoided the endanger boat /crew or risk hitting the surfer decision.
My point - there are two sides to this issue. We should not have to fear sticking up for ourselves .If anything changes to help resolve it let the experts also consider how surfers can help by addressing their unsafe practices already mentioned here like 'dawn patrol' ', low light Seaway crossings and dropping in on a vessel twenty times your size. If you think any voluntary code of practice will work just talk to any surfer here about lack of respect,dropping in etc in Gold Coast surf breaks - thing of the past.
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