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Old 01-14-2005, 07:15 AM
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ricki ricki is offline
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Default Delray Beach Kiteboarding Law & Restrictions


Stay to the south of the line within 300 ft. of shore with a kite flying. Don't ride inside 300 ft. of shore and don't walk down the beach with kite flying north of this line.

In short, rig, launch and return south of the red line.

Even if you see other guys doing this, don't do it yourself. There's a $500. fine and possibly 60 days in jail for some lucky kiter violating this City ordinance. Volunteers? Beyond that it threatens our access.


NOTE: If you can't stay upwind, don't ride anywhere near the line with a south wind. If the wind is dead onshore and light, your kite
and/or board aren't large enough, DON'T ride north into the out of bounds area trying to get out. Walk south or ride somewhere
else if necessary. The trick is to stay out of that area to the north within 100 yards of shore off the guarded beach at all times.
Always be considerate of bystanders south of the line. Kiting here isn't a right it is a privilege which we can keep or lose simply
by how riders behave. Encourage guys not to threaten your access through careless or inconsiderate practices. This launch is too
good to risk losing it!

IF you are doing downwinders to the north or south, BE SURE to stay at least 100 yards beyond lifeguarded beaches while kiting
in other cities. Guarded areas are easy to identify from the lifeguard stands. Also be considerate of bystanders at all times.
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Old 09-22-2008, 04:27 PM
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It is important to rig, launch and land to the south of the line shown. Beach erosion has narrowed that area of beach quite a lot too particularly at high tide. If that means walking further south to be able to rig and launch, then walk further south. If you are riding out, be sure to pass on the downwind side of the lineup of surfers while not riding through them routinely. If this means going inside a hundred yards of the guarded beach, tack offshore farther to the SE before heading north.

If winds are east, onshore and too light to get out or the waves are too intense to allow getting out easily, do go off here. Head further south to where the waves might be lighter or wait for a better wind day. Do not ride within 100 yards of shore or walk with your kite on the beach north of the red line. If you are still working on staying upwind, if the winds are out of the SE why not setup to the north of Sand Dunes Park just north of Linton? That will give you over a mile of clear beach before you come into the out of bounds guarded area. If the wind is out of the NE, start south of the area mapped above for the same reason.

Not everyone does these things. Then again, why do we still have threats to access? Do your part to keep us flying.

Thanks!
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Old 09-22-2008, 04:30 PM
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I recently had an inquiry about kiteboarding off of Delray Beach and so decided to repost this here from the FKA list on Nov 5, 2003 :


Delray Beach, FL, USA - USED to have voluntary kiteboarding guidelines ...

NOW, it has a L A W restricting kiteboarding.


If there is any good news in this, it is that the law approximates the
intent of the FKA guidelines* that were prepared and distributed to riders
in the area for Delray Beach sometime ago and general guidelines that have been in circulation for YEARS.


ALL KITEBOARDERS, with some specific exceptions, should NEVER launch, land or ride within 300 ft. of ANY guarded public beaches in Florida. This
appears to be the main restriction effecting kiteboarders in the new City of Delray Ordinance*** reproduced below. Please read it over to grasp all the impacts on kiteboarding. Lots of riders know and observe this simple
precaution, unfortunately not everyone does however.



SUMMARIZING SOME OF THE MAIN POINTS OF THE NEW ORDINANCE:

1. Kiteboarders shall not launch, land or ride within 300 ft. to the south,
east or north of municipal beaches, including the guarded public beach at
Atlantic Dunes Park (just north of Linton Blvd).

and

from the Seagate property just to the South of Casurina St., north to the
end of the guarded public beach just South of George Bush Blvd.


2. An exception to the prohibitions loosely described in #1 above is a LIFE
OR DEATH emergency which may require a kiteboarder/kitesurfer to traverse on or within three hundred feet (300’) north, south or east of any municipal beach site.


>>THE PENALTY for violating this ordinance could include up to a $500. FINE
>>AND/OR 60 DAYS IN JAIL.<<



Guidelines are VOLUNTARY, compliance with LAWS IS NOT! Do us ALL a favor and follow and promote the Safe Kiteboarding Guidelines** , local guidelines as may be applicable and other appropriate practices. It is all about avoiding complaints, incidents and official involvement. It really isn't
that hard to do but we don't have the option in Delray Beach anymore.
Public government what think twice about kiteboarding IF we allow it to by
our actions.



The Delray Beach Guidelines follow and include a 500 ft. buffer zone from
guarded beaches as a precaution. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY
KITEBOARDING APPROACH TO WITHIN 300 FT. of guarded beaches.


* Delray Beach Kiteboarding Guidelines – Nov. 5, 2003

These guidelines have been prepared by the Florida Kitesurfing Association, Inc. (FKA), to avoid promoting additional kiteboarding restrictions by City Officials. Kiteboarders should be aware of the requirements of City Ordinance NO. 39-03 restricting kiteboarding.

1.EXCLUSION ZONE: NO LAUNCHING, LANDING OR FLYING of Traction Kites is permitted ON or WITHIN 500 ft. of guarded beaches.

2.ALWAYS stay at least 100 ft. away from bystanders that are downwind, while flying your kite. Wait until the area is clear to launch or land.

3.Start downwinder runs, DOWNWIND of the guarded beach and DO NOT ride into nearshore areas off of the guarded beach under any circumstances.

4.Kiteboarders are encouraged to launch and land within the designated
kiteboarding launch area marked by traffic cones and temporary signs.

5.AVOID UNNECESSARY RESCUES. If your kite is on the water, every 15 to 20 minutes, face shore and hold one hand on your head for several seconds to indicate that you are "OK".

6.A tested, reliable depowering kite leash MUST be used. Use of safety
equipment including a good helmet, impact vest, gloves, whistle and hook
knife is recommended.

7.Kiteboarders are solely responsible for their safety and that of
bystanders and shall act with appropriate caution.

8.ALWAYS be courteous and yield the right of way to residents, all other
beach users and bathers. Work to avoid complaints to preserve your access to this kiteboarding launch.

9.Extended full sized traction kite flying on shore should be avoided. If
you want to fly on the beach, use a trainer kite.

10.Assisted kite launch and landing is recommended. Kiteboarders are
encouraged to aid other riders in complying with these guidelines and to
readily give assistance when needed.




These new developments are further explored in a recent Sunsentinel
newspaper account at:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...31,0,7995797.\
story?coll=sfla-news-palm



** Safe Kiteboarding Guidelines
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11313



***CITY OF DELRAY BEACH ORDINANCE NO. 39-03

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 101 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH,
“PARKS, BEACHES AND RECREATION”, BY AMENDING SECTION 101.15, “DEFINITIONS”, PROVIDING A DEFINITION OF “MOTOR VEHICLE” AND A DEFINITION OF “VEHICLE”, AMENDING SECTION 101.24, “TRAFFIC REGULATIONS”, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE
SAFETY OF CITIZENS AND TOURISTS ENJOYING THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH’S MUNICIPAL BEACH BY PROHIBITING THE USE, OPERATION, AND PROPELLING OF VEHICLES ON THE MUNICIPAL BEACH SITE; AMENDING SECTION 101.34, “SURFING, SCUBA DIVING AND JET SKIS”, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE SAFETY OF CITIZENS AND TOURISTS ENJOYING THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH’S MUNICIPAL BEACH BY
PROHIBITING KITEBOARDING AND PARASAILING ON THE MUNICIPAL BEACH SITE AND PROHIBITING KITE-FLYING AND WINDSURFING EXCEPT IN DESIGNATED AREAS; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, A GENERAL REPEALER CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, desires to provide for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens enjoying the
City’s beaches; and

WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, desires
to prevent uses that are dangerous to the City’s beach-going citizens and
tourists.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY
BEACH, FLORIDA:

Section 1. That Chapter 101, “Parks, Beaches and Recreations”, Section
101.15, “Definitions”, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Delray
Beach, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“MOTOR VEHICLE”. Any self-propelled motorized device designed and used for
the purpose of transporting or moving any person or property from one place
to another but not operated upon rails or guideway, including but not
limited to the following: All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and powered
paragliders.

”MUNICIPAL BEACH”. All the fractional east half of Section 16, Township 46
South, Range 43 East together with that part of Lots 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13
lying east of State Road A1A, as described in a replat of part of Segers
Addition, recorded in Plat Book 16, Page 89, Palm Beach County records; and
that part of Lots 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, Block E, and the south 10 feet of Lot 3,
Block E, as described in the Revised Plat of Block D & E, Palm Beach Shore
Acres, recorded in Plat Book 7, Page 38, Palm Beach County records; and
Atlantic Dunes Park, all lying east of the east curb of State Road A1A
(Ocean Boulevard), including the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the
boundaries of this city.

“PARK”. Any land owned or controlled by the city under the management and
administration of the Parks and Recreation Department and devoted primarily
to outdoor recreation activities.

“RECREATION SITE”. Any facility, except a park, owned or controlled by the
city,
under the management and administration of the Parks and Recreation
Department and devoted primarily to indoor recreation activities.

“VEHICLE”. Any device designed and used for the purpose of transporting or
moving any person or property from one place to another but not operated
upon rails or guideway, including but not limited to the following:
parachutes.

Section 2. That Chapter 101, “Parks, Beaches and Recreation”, Section
101.24, “Traffic Regulations”, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
Delray Beach, Is hereby amended to read as follows:

(A) No person shall drive, propel or cause to be driven or propelled along
or over any road within any park, any vehicle at a greater rate of speed
than posted, and in any event, not more than 25 miles per hour.

(B) No person shall use, operate or propel or cause to be used, operated,
or propelled on or within three hundred feet (300’) north, south or east of
any municipal beach site within the limits of the City any vehicle or motor
vehicle; provided, however, nothing in this section shall prevent (1)
official motor vehicles or vehicles of a governmental agency from traversing
the beaches, banks or dunes in the performance of official governmental
duties (2) non-governmental purposes of maintenance and/or preservation of
same as authorized or required by a government agency (3) motor vehicles or
vehicles utilized for the purpose of transporting a physically disabled
person who would otherwise be incapable of accessing and traveling upon the
beach without such assistance, or (4) motor vehicles or vehicles utilized
for other authorized purposes as approved by the City Manager, from
traversing the beaches and access points thereto of any municipal beach site
within the City limits.

1. An exception to the prohibitions in Section (B) is a life or death
emergency which may require motor vehicles to be used, operated or propelled
on or within three hundred feet (300’) north, south or east of any municipal
beach site.

(B)(C) No person shall park or store any motor vehicle, motorcycle,
bicycle, wagon or other vehicle within a park, recreation or municipal beach
site except in places designated for such purposes.

(C)(D) Laws of the city requiring lights on vehicles shall apply to
vehicles in a park, recreation or municipal beach site.

(D)(E) Vehicles shall be restricted to drives, roadways, paths, walks and
trails established for such purposes. Footpaths or walks designated for
pedestrian travel shall not be used for vehicular travel.

(E)(F) No motor vehicles shall be driven upon the municipal beach without a
written permit from the Parks and Recreation Department.

(F)(G) All ordinances of the city with respect to vehicles shall be in full
force and effect in the parks of said city.

(G)(H) No person shall ride any horse or other animal within any park and
recreation site, except upon bridle paths designated as such.
Penalty, see Sec. 10.99

Section 3. That Title IX, “General Regulations”, Chapter 101, “Parks,
Beaches and Recreation”, Section 101.34, “Surfing, Scuba Diving and Jet
Skis”, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Delray Beach, be hereby
amended to read as follows:

Section 101.34 SURFING, SCUBA DIVING AND JET SKIS.

(A) No parasailing or kiteboarding/kitesurfing shall be permitted within
three hundred feet (300’) north, south or east of any municipal beach site
within the limits of the City. No surfing, windsurfing or kite-flying shall
be permitted except in areas designated by the City Manager. It shall be the
duty of the chief lifeguard to see that proper markers are maintained to
indicate the location of any area to be designated. No person shall use any
surfboard, paddleboard, skimmer, belly board, rubber life raft, canoe, boat
or other similar object made entirely or partially of wood, metal, glass,
hard plastic or any other hard substance at any time on the beach or in the
Atlantic Ocean in a manner that constitutes a hazard to any other person.

1. An exception to the prohibitions in Section (A) is a life or death
emergency which may require a kiteboarder/kitesurfer to traverse on or
within three hundred feet (300’) north, south or east of any municipal beach
site.

(B) Scuba diving and jet skis are prohibited from all areas of the
municipal beach.

Section 4. That should any section or provision of this ordinance or any
portion thereof, any paragraph, sentence, or word be declared by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the
validity of the remainder hereof as a whole or part thereof other than the
part declared to be invalid.

Section 5. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith
be, and the same are hereby repealed.

Section 6. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its
passage on second and final reading.

PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second and final reading on this
the _______ day of ____________________, 2003.

ATTEST:
_______________________________________
MAYOR
__________________________________
CITY CLERK

First Reading ______________________

Second Reading ____________________






Let's work to AVOID more official involvement and restriction of our sport!
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Old 09-22-2008, 08:24 PM
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Hey Rick,

Sorry Im posting so much lately. Season is getting close and Im trying to expand my kite spots. I've only ridden at Crandon, Matheson, Keys, and Hatteras. I would like to expand my options and stay out of "trouble" as well.

I google mapped this beach. Are you saying anything north of Linton up to the line on your first map is fair game? Meaning you can come into shore with kite in air or setup anywhere along that stretch?

Also can you x marks the spot for public parking or beach access to setup. I dont know the area.

\Thanks

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...38452&t=h&z=15
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Old 09-22-2008, 08:30 PM
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There is a single lifeguard stand and sign on the beach to the north of Linton and Atlantic Dune Park. As long as you are north of that sign and not causing complaints with residents along that stretch you should be good to go.

Be careful about staying out of the dunes. One of these residents closer to the north end and kitebeach, came very close to banning kiting through complaining to the mayor years back. If you are walking back and bystanders are about to pass as a courtesy it is good to walk on the downwind side of them keeping them upwind of your lines. Not everyone does this simple thing which could pay off big someday.

There are other large areas of private beach south of here. There are also areas of exposed rock on the bottom particularly in Highland Beach and parts of Boca Raton. Also, the width of the beach is pretty small in some of these areas. So, have a care down that way.

Thanks for your concern, we would have a lot fewer issues and be able to focus more on riding if more had your outlook.
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Old 09-22-2008, 09:36 PM
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Nice. Im not used to that long of a section of kitable beach. Thats sweet.

It looks like, at least for that area, the rule of thumb is if there are houses behind the beach and no rows of lounge chairs/Cabanas and no lifeguard stations your'e good to go. That will come in handy for some downwinders.
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Old 11-22-2010, 12:57 PM
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Just got this in:

"As members of this fantastic site you are considered a local kitesurfer to the Delray Beach area. Our summer saw some unexpected wind and we are now gearing up to enjoy a great WINDY SEASON! All of us have a true passion for this sport. We all kitesurf, thus we all know the safety issues and the perception surrounding this sport, both ours and those we come in contact with. Delray Beach has one of the best launches in the STATE... that is a fact! We have over a mile of beach to set-up, launch & land while enjoying the best kitesurfing has to offer; without getting into anybody's way, right here in our back yard. As the 2010 Season is officially here, it is up to us locals to police ourselves and to inform newbie's. All of us, the Delray Kiteboard community need to continue to take a proactive approach on safety. Thinking safe, being safe and informing others, ensures Delray does not go the way of Hobie Beach and other areas that did not regulate themselves well enough. We cannot ever let that happen here, we all have it too good! My job is to keep you and your family and everyone who ventures to the beach, safe. But as local kiteboarders is it not all our jobs? Everyone has heard the negative stories (Ft. Lauderdale kiteboarder hits condo) and the perception our sport can bring with one kite down in a bathing area or worst a severe injury to ourselves. Let's keep what we all enjoy! Be proactive, launch and land in the appropriate area, south of the Seagate, don't fly over people sitting/walking on shore, especially at the Seagate. Those lines are 25 meters so be courteous and wrap lines when not flying, stay 300 feet offshore and away from bathers....when doing a downwinder think what the perception is as you buzz the shoreline. We all can help educate those that may not know..........Delray has a great kite scene and being proactive toward SAFETY ...............keeps our sport strong!

Eric Feld, Supervisor
Delray Beach Ocean Rescue "
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Old 07-30-2012, 09:59 PM
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I just made some updates to the first post in this thread. Preserving access can be easy, we just have to follow a few rules, use common sense and courtesy.

Be careful not to ride within 100 yards of shore in lifeguarded areas in other cities, particularly during downwinders. Too many guys starting from Delray have brought needless heat to Boca beaches. The same could historically be said of guys heading south into Delray Beach. We're all in one small community, so watch out for all of our access.
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Old 01-27-2016, 10:47 PM
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Delray can be a good spot for newer kiters, if the waves are manageable and they start at the right end of the beach. If there is a SE wind on, it is best to start at the south end, just north of the posted, lifeguarded area in front of Atlantic Dune Park north of Linton Blvd.. This way you have over a mile to drift north before coming near another out of bounds lifeguarded area. If the wind is northerly, then setup about 400 ft. south of Casurina Rd. and well south of the Segate Club.. This puts you well to the south of the out of bounds lifeguarded area that runs well to the north. Again for the same reason, so that you have over a mile to drift south before approaching another out of bounds lifeguarded area. No kiting is permitted by law within 100 yards of a lifeguarded beach in Delray. If it is light or strong from the east and onshore, between that and the waves, it may take extra skill to work beyond 100 yards from shore along with the right sized kite and board. Newer kiters have probems with this at times (along with some experienced guys too). Strong winds can bring large waves, at times with a double break which can be daunting to newer kiters. Be careful and considerate of bystanders working hard to avoid complaints and you should be fine. Many locations south of here often do have more restrictions due to higher populations and many years of access problems. Given narrow access corridors they may also require higher levels of skill to ride upwind within narrow areas to get beyond100 to 150 yards from shore. As with most beach launches in SE Florida, westerly winds are offshore and not usually kiteable.
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