Sailing into 2011 - BOP Gathering proposed

The feedback at this stage is to have a get together late January/early February, as families return from holidays. I have suggested evening beers/swapmeet, (bring along any surplus or unloved equipment to sell) at the Fergusson Park Clubrooms, with a couple of dvd's running.  I will post details here http://www.deepfried.tv/forum/postings.cfm?id=2097. You can subscribe to the forum thread and you will be automatically sent posts. Please reply with contact details so as I can get an idea of interest, and propose a date that suits the majority of respondents.
You can also keep in touch through  http://www.sessionlogs.com/discoguy

And please put anyone else in touch with me, that may be keen to be kept in the loop.

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WindAddiction BOP are welcoming windsurfing members to their association. The club was established by the local kiters, however in recent months I have been voted onto the committee as windsurf rep. The committee have proposed to drop 'kiteboarders' from the original name and redesign the club logo to include a windsurfing icon.

They are now affiliated to Windsurfing NZ as a result of embracing the local windsurfing community.

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On a more concerning note;

 It has been 'reported' the Tauranga Harbourmaster is proactively enforcing laws regarding SUP'ers not wearing pfd's/lifejackets within the harbour,(does not apply off the coast, as the SUP then becomes a 'surfcraft'). A $200 infringement is applicable to personal users, $50,000 for commercial operators!  Anecdotal reports of increasing SUP rescues are unable to be substantiated by Coastgard's  own website, detailed under "Incident Reports".

Highly Dangerous Activity...BAM!...$200

This type of issue did raise itself for windsurfing many years ago, but the suggestion of compulsory PFD and/or wetsuit use had implications for the wider surfing community and was soon dismissed. As in these sports, the equipment we are riding in itself is effectively a "floatation device" . Self recovery is the issue, and the addition of a "lifejacket",(in the case of these types of watercraft) is seen to be an obstructive hindrance to effectively doing so. As a result of a generally negative response from the surfing community,  this misguided proposal soon disappeared. 

The real concern is the impact this proactive policing of the current law may have on other watersport enthusiasts, who also enjoy the safe environment of the harbour.

I have been in correspondence with other concerned users/operators, and there are moves to have amendments made to the bylaw. There is the possibility of a petition needing to be submitted in this regard. It seems a simple clarification on the status of the SUP is needed, to distance away from traditional paddle craft, (kayak based craft, typically manufactured with limited positive buoyancy) and more toward the surfboard.

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2011 New Equipment Review.

My brand new Vandal Stitch 7.0 is fricken AWESOME.