Kiters behaving rudely to Harbormaster at WBay
Sat, 08/06/2011 - 20:20
Great day at WB today, saw lots of old friends from near and as far away as Israel! Great to see JD as we crossed paths while I ended my session.
Not so great was the interaction between the Mashpee Harbormaster and an unkown visiting kiter. I did not witness this interaction but a kiter gave the Harbormaster the middle finger not once but twice in response to the HM asking the kiter to stay away from the boat channel. Not cool. It upset the HM so much that he docked his boat and drove down the long dirt road to speak directly to many of the kiters on beach, I was not there for that interaction either but many of my kiting friends were, including Frank.
The HM stated to everyone his (and now our) rules for kiting at WB.
1: No kiting within 150ft of the "no wake" portion of the boat channels. This includes the first three sets of green and red buoys immediately to the right of the "first" parking lot off Wills Work Rd. This rule also includes the entire approximately 200 yrd long channel at the entrance to the Bay from the Sound (which is partially bounded by the rock jetties).
2: No kiting in Sage Lot Pond.
I am restating severeal other rules that have been in effect for some time.
3: No giving the HM the finger. (This rule has always been implied). You must obey the requests of the HM, they are a division of our local Mashpee police department.
4: The first parking lot off of Wills Work Rd is for very experienced kiters only, if you can't stay up wind or quickly water restart this launch is not for you, use the beaches off of the second parking lot at very end of Wills Work Rd.
5: Beginners who can not reliably stay upwind need to start far upwind of the beaches at the second parking lot and stop their downwind progress before they come with 300 ft of the beaches at the first parking lot or any families on this beach. They should stand up on the sand in the water and walk back upwind or take kite down. If you do not like this rule then consider kiting somewhere else. If you learned on some other beach on the Cape, consider kiting there again. We will not tolerate the breaking of these rules. If they confuse you then do not kite until a kiter not confused by these rules can clarify them for you.
Note that many of us regulars have often kited through (but not idled in) the shallowest waters on the far leeward side of the channel at the entrance of the Bay on our way to the Sound, including myself (and today Roger joined me). This will not be allowed as per the HM.
Let's not debate this, not the rules and not the finger. We've all heard of similar events at Harding's recently and debated it to death already. Not sure if today's finger happy rude kiter even reads this forum. But if this behaviour continues WB will be closed down to kiting.
I will try to get a map together to clarify for everyone. Again, if you are confused speak directly with someone knowledgable at the Bay before you kite at WB again.
Could the admin of MK please add this post to the beaches section if it again becomes an active part of this site.
See you on the water.
Sat, 08/06/2011 - 20:59
#1
Sorry to hear about this,
Sorry to hear about this, where is the common sense?
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 17:48
#2
Kiteboarding is a privilege not a right...
Food for thought...this is getting STUPID that we have to keep reminding kiters of THEIR responsibilites. IF you act like an asshole on the water it will no longer be tolerated!
Wed, 08/10/2011 - 10:52
#3
Kiteboarding
If I had received a nickel everytime a kiter shows up beleiving it is their right I'd be a rich man!
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 19:29
#4
funny thing about common
funny thing about common sense: It is not so common!
Sat, 08/06/2011 - 21:35
#5
Robert thank you as always
Robert thank you as always for the updates on WB. This sounds ridiculous, you would think with all the summer restrictions, and long dirt road to WB the jackasses would stay home.
That type of total disrespect doesnt make any sense to me I would have to believe this was not a regular kiter in the area, just sounds so ridiculous in reference to everything we have been talking about.
Sat, 08/06/2011 - 22:45
#6
On the same page
I spoke with Harbor Master as well. What I heard from him is consistent with Robert's post.
To clarify, Sage Pond Lot is the large estuary (marsh area) behind the normal launch area accessed from the second parking lot.
Please rig and launch from the launch area that is beyond the second parking lot. You are almost guaranteed to get carried into the restriced boat channel immediately to the right of the "first" parking lot off Wills Work Rd if you launch from the area next to the first parking lot.
Please check with other riders at the beach to make sure you understand the location of the restricted areas.
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 08:39
#7
If you can behave like an
If you can behave like an adult, don't kite.
I am no longer going to keep names of people that can't be respectful to the rules and others names off the forums, so if I hear who it is or see you misbehave, you will be reading your name here.
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 10:20
#8
I agree southie. If your
I agree southie. If your going to behave like a child, you need to be treated like one. There is no reason for this. I have spoken to the HM at WB. He's a nice guy that is asking for our cooperation for a reason. It's his job to keep eveyone safe. And if that means shutting down kite surfing so he can keep his job, I wouldn't blame him. If a kitter in the Chanel gets wraped up with a boat, HE is going to take the brunt of it and have to file a ton of paper work. The HM there is for everyones safty. Anyone disrespecting him will be flogged on site. And I'm sure my friends at WB would be more than willing to help.
Use your head, or it will be removed. This has been a public service announcement.
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 11:23
#9
Wow! Off with their head
Wow! Off with their head
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 11:05
#10
Agreed
Agreed, name names, especially with aggregious violations like this.
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 11:29
#11
Sighhh...
Would a letter of
Sighhh...
Would a letter of apology and explanation to the HM help?
I.e. acknowledging the incindent and explaning that this does not reflect the attitude of the community as a whole?
Sun, 08/07/2011 - 12:00
#12
someone should have landed him...
and then stuck a pin in his kite as they flipped it on the sand.
Old Cabarete trick, works everytime 
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 11:58
#13
Cross posting
I agree that this behavior is completely unwarranted and inappropriate. However, while I will honor the decisions and new rules created by those with the authority to do so, it does not mean that we have to like the new rules or even agree with them. The following are words that I posted in the other thread that also addresses this unfortunate situation:
"I completely agree that we all need to put our best foot forward and act as positive, mature and responsible ambassadors for our sport. I agree that we need to show respect to the authorities and other beachgoers, and while it is a shame that not all of those who embrace our sport can abide by these basic guidelines and/or rules of society, I believe the rest of us are still due the same respect from the authorities who control access to these spots. Not being there and not knowing the situation, as I play out scenarios in my mind, I find myself wondering why the harbormaster would not have tracked down the individual who was acting unreasonably and issued a citation, or at the very least a warning, instead of holding an entire group hostage because of the bad decisions of one individual who is most likely not even a part of this "community". This guilt by association business is starting to go a little too far. For instance, if a mountain biker flipped off a park ranger, it would not be a natural consequence for the rangers to close down the trails. If a pedestrian flipped off a police officer, I doubt the sidewalks would be shut down. If a boater flipped off the harbormaster, I wonder what the natural consequence would be? I completely appreciate the work of all civil servants and recognize that it is not an easy job, but hope that when individuals break rules and act irresponsibly that those INDIVIDUALS are punished for their misdeeds and not everyone who happens to have some commonality with them."
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 12:55
#14
That's a valuable
That's a valuable perspective.
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 15:15
#15
Agreed
I do think common sense is common and 1 out of a 100 are uncommon jerks IMO
Its a normal behavior that all kiters should look to be able to communicate this message and input when approached. For instance if you get approached by authority:
You let them know how we feel about access and how we worry about the traveler or that one odd duck. Remind the Harbor Master of all the jerks on boats they have had to engage. Suggest we feel the same way and would like the same approach to apply. We all want the same thing access and safety. Remind all the people on the beach have always complied and we need protection from that one from their watchful eye and appreciated assistance.
Same feeling toward kiters and Masskiting. Most of us have the same ideals and as a group need to work together in some instances, but not be blamed together for the actions of the few. If 1 in a 100 are jerks we need to push back against those few and ask others not to blame our joint efforts as we dont appreciate or condone that one duck.
I am happy that 100+ people just read about this issue. I am sure not all agree but at least we all are on the same page. It means if 20 folks are there tomorrow 5-10 of them have read our concern as a group to tell those that have not what WE expect.
Fri, 08/12/2011 - 13:56
#16
Will?
Does any one know who Will was and what was he working on at the end of the road?
Sat, 08/13/2011 - 09:29
#17
I think
Katama7 wrote:
Does any one know who Will was and what was he working on at the end of the road?
I think i used to say will work for food, but time has eroded the sign
Sun, 08/14/2011 - 14:19
#19
Also, it's the road next to
Also, it's the road next to Whippoorwill's Circle. I always assumed the two names were related, and Will's work road was used as a short identifier.
Anyway, is it open again?
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 01:01
#20
Sorry
Sorry, that was Royal Barry Wills, not Wells.
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 22:38
#21
Waquiot Entymology
"Waquiot" is a Wampanoag name meaning "at the end".
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:37
#22
i like skyrockets
i like skyrockets suggestion...if i witness that shit dude will get smacked off his board with the leading edge of my kite mid power stroke. access is already so limited during the summer, this behavior blows my mind.
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 15:48
#23
No kiting in the channel = old news
I found this post, almost the same story less the HM involvement.
http://masskiting.com/kiteboarding-forum/illegal-kiting-waquoit-bay
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 16:54
#24
yup. nothing new. only now
yup. nothing new. only now we don't have the rules up anywhere besides these few threads. so you have to do yer homework to get the skinny.
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 08:56
#25
and I think that is just
and I think that is just wrong
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 12:59
#26
happened yesterday again
yesterday evening around 5:30 there was a red and black kite going downwind in the channel passing between incoming boats until we could not see him anymore from the beach. Maybe he lives there and was going home.
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 13:38
#27
SMH
geotrouvetout wrote:
yesterday evening around 5:30 there was a red and black kite going downwind in the channel passing between incoming boats until we could not see him anymore from the beach. Maybe he lives there and was going home.
def saw this guy!
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 16:56
#28
More info
I saw a Naish kite both inside and outside the Bay yesterday (Sunday).
I know the person pumped up way up on the sandbar (well beyond where most people were launching from) and started kiting within the Bay. Next thing I knew the kite was outside the Bay. I am not sure how they got out.
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 16:29
#29
Was it a red and black
Its a red and black Naish. He is the purpose of this thread and is a vistor. Frank ran down the beach to let him know. He obviously does not care. That s sad....Asshole
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 19:35
#30
Should we talk to the HM?
I'm wondering if we should contact the HM and let him know that we do care about his rules as the main group kiting there regularly that we do inform people about it but we can't physically force someone to obey, especially if he is a "tourist". We need his help too, he only may have the authority to evict the guy or even fine him. On Friday I talked to another kiter with a green kite (Best I think) that was kiting passed the channel, he told me he is a local and it was ok for good kiters. He was actually a very nice guy but I'm not sure he won't do it again.
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 20:46
#31
Hi,
I'm not 100% sure where
Hi,
I'm not 100% sure where exactly the channel is, even though I'm familiar with WB and the situation we're in. I drew this map. Are we supposed to stay outside of the red line? Where exactly is it? I felt like I've gotten too close this Sunday. (I was not the kite in red and black)
[img_assist|nid=7312|title=WB|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=720|height=540]
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 22:24
#32
you have to be past the last
you have to be past the last red bouy (#3) and 5 mph sign. pretty close to where you have it highlighted. Not supposed to be within 150 feet of the channel as well.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 20:16
#33
nice map
The red rectangles are the "no wake" portions of the channel that you are not supposed to kite through (or come with 150') per HM.
The red dashed line is one of the boat channels marked with red and green buoys (as are the "no wake zones"), you can kite through these portions of the channels which do not have a boat speed limit but always giving all other boats right of way, you are not supposed to "idle" in them as the locals tend to say.
Great pm session "at the end" tonight. Had to work over w/end and missed all the excitement. Geotroutevout, the green Best kiter may have been riding though the dashed channel, not the prohibited "no wake" portion of channel?
Soon the boaters will be gone...
Did you know that the bay used to be mosty eelgrass as recently as the 50's, might have been really flat and kiteable at hightide? Check out these historical maps:
http://www.buzzardsbay.org/eelgrass/waquoit-eipaper-quad-s.jpg
Apparently, in the late 1700's there was a "Wells Salt Works" that operated in that niche of the WBay to the right of the first parking lot, up the river to the right (Great River), soldiers from the just won Revolutionary War worked there. The Wills Works Road parallels that Great River and I suspect that the road was named in the distant past by that salt works operation, it was their "work road". I found a reference to this "Wells Salt Works" in a short online history of New Seabury, link included below. They may have mispelled the name of the salt works on that website, maybe the salt works was actually spelled "Wills Salt Works". Or maybe the road name permutated over the centuries?
Alternatively, there was a famous Boston architect of the 1900's, Royal Barry Wells, he led the revival in architecture of cape stye houses and his son Richard designed many of the houses in New Seabury, possibly that was their work road but its too far from the New Seabury Houses I think ?
So next time you drive the road, think of your place in its long history.
http://www.peninsulacouncil.com/peninsulacouncil/history.html
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Kitebum