Water skiingWater skiing involves being towed over water, at a speed of 8 knots or more, by a vessel, supported by a ski, or skis, an aquaplane, other apparatus or feet. This includes being towed on a wakeboard, kneeboard or inflatable device.

Water skiing is a high risk activity and as the skipper of a vessel towing a water skier, it’s your responsibility to ensure the safety of your crew and the skier at all times.

To reduce the risks associated with water skiing it is important that skippers familiarise themselves with:• the rules and regulations; • the layout and boundaries of the ski area; • the direction of skiing;• the hours of operation; • the location of the take-off and landing areas; and• any shallow water areas or other hazards.

This information is available in local boating guides and charts available from DoT or on signage at boat ramps.

Before commencing skiing, it is recommended that skippers brief each participant on their roles and responsibilities, hand signals and the various procedures associated with water skiing, such as recovering and reboarding of a downed skier.

Care should also be taken to brief participants on the location and use of safety equipment on-board the vessel and measures to avoid propeller strike.

When underway:• follow the required direction of travel and remain inside

the ski area; • be alert and maintain a good lookout for other vessels,

objects and downed skiers; and • be courteous of other users and keep clear of slower

moving vessels, paddle craft and sail craft.

With a bit of planning, courtesy and attention to safety, all users of water ski areas will be able to enjoy their day out.

The ski boat crewTo go skiing there must be a minimum of two in the ski boat, the skipper and at least one observer. The observer faces towards the skier at all times and communicates to the skipper while the skipper faces forward to maintain a proper lookout and concentrates on the vessel’s course within the ski area.

The skipperTo be the driver of a vessel, with a motor over 6 hp (4.5 kW), engaged in water skiing you:• must hold an Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST), or be

supervised by an RST holder who is at least 18 years of age; and

• must be at least 17 years of age.

The skipper is responsible for abiding by the rules and regulations and for the safety of the: • vessel; • crew; and• skiers.

The observerTo be the observer you:• must be at least 14 years of age;• have the prime responsibility of observing the towed

skiers and reporting all matters affecting them to the skipper;

• alert the skipper about other vessels approaching from behind; and

• should be familiar with the standard hand signals.

The skierSkiers can be any age; however, it is recommended they wear an approved Level 50 or 50s lifejacket while skiing.

Areas for water skiing You can only water ski in a gazetted ski area at the permitted times. Ski areas are marked by signs on the foreshore and at each public boat ramp adjacent to the ski area. Ski area boundaries may also be marked in the water by buoys. The signs also provide information on the direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise) you must follow, times when skiing is permitted and if/where the take-off and landing areas are located. Consult these signs before skiing.

Waiting to take-off with a skier Driver’s signalWhen waiting for a safe opportunity to take-off with a skier, the skipper should signal to vessels dropping off a skier that they do not intend to move until it’s clear. This is indicated by holding both hands in the air showing that they are not on the boat’s controls.

Skier down Observer’s signalThe observer only should hold one arm straight up in the air to indicate to other vessels that the skier has fallen off and is in the water.

Vessels seeing this signal should keep a good lookout for the skier in the water.

Skier down and is OK Skier’s signalA fallen skier who has sustained no injuries should indicate that they are OK by raising both arms into the air.

If the observer does not see this signal, they should inform the skipper to return to the skier as quickly and safely as possible.

Dropping off a skier Driver’s signal When returning a skier to the shore the driver should indicate this by the raising and lowering of a hand above the head.

Water skiing hand signals

Department of Transport

May 2020

Boating Guide Kununurra Wyndham Marine Safety

Contact details

Department of TransportEmail: marine.safety@transport.wa.gov.auWebsite: www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarineMarine Safety Hotline: 13 11 56

Weather ForecastBoating Weather: 1300 815 916Website: www.bom.gov.au/marine

PoliceEmergency: 000Water Police: 9442 8600Kununurra: 9166 4530Wyndham: 9161 0400

Marine Rescue WAEmergency contact: VHF 16 and 27Mhz 88East Kimberley: (VMR699) Mobile: 0466 092 747 VHF: 16, 80, 81

Department of Primary Industry and Regional DevelopmentWebsite: www.dpird.wa.gov.auKununurra: 9168 4243

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsWebsite: www.dbca.wa.gov.auKununurra: 9168 4200

Port AuthorityWyndham: 9161 1203

The information contained in this publication is provided in good faith and believed to be accurate at time of publication. The State shall in no way be liable for any loss sustained or incurred by anyone relying on the information.

Join us at facebook.com/MarineSafetyWA

Protected Waters Unprotected Waters

Lakes, rivers, inlets and estuaries EXCEPT

Lake Argyle &Cambridge Gulf.

0-2 Nautical

Miles from the mainland

shore.

2-5 Nautical

Miles from the mainland

shore.

Over 5 Nautical

Miles from the mainland

shore.

Recreational Skipper’s TicketThe skipper of a recreational vessel, powered by a motor greater than 6 horsepower must hold an RST.

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Bilge Pump/BailerAll vessels must carry a bilge pump. Vessels under 7 metres may carry a bailer in lieu of a bilge pump.

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓Fire ExtinguisherVessels with an inboard engine or carrying hydrocarbon heating or cooling appliances must carry an approved fire extinguisher.

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Anchor and LineAn efficient anchor and line must be carried. R ✓ ✓ ✓LifejacketA lifejacket bearing the label Level 100 (or higher) with the Australian Standard AS 1512, AS 4758 or ISO 12402 must be carried for every person onboard.

R ✓ ✓ ✓Red and Orange Flares (in-date)At least two hand held red flares and two hand held orange flares must be carried. Two parachute flares may be carried in lieu of the two hand held red flares and a smoke canister may be carried in lieu of the smoke flares.

R ✓ ✓ ✓

EPIRB (in-date)A 406 MHz EPIRB registered with AMSA bearing the standard AS/NZS 4280.1 must be carried if proceeding more than 2 nautical miles from the mainland shore or more than 400 metres from an island located more than 2 nautical miles from the mainland shore.

R R ✓ ✓

Parachute Flares (in-date)A minimum of two parachute flares must be carried if operating more than 5 nautical miles from the mainland shore or more than 1 nautical miles from an island located more than 5 nautical miles from the mainland shore.

R R R ✓

Marine RadioA marine radio must be carried if operating more than 5 nautical miles from the mainland shore or more than 1 nautical miles from an island located more than 5 nautical miles from the mainland shore. The radio can be 27 MHz, VHF or HF.

R R R ✓RSE-0420

Required SafetyEquipmentR = Recommended

✓ = Required

Elephant Rock

Packsaddle Pumping Station

See

Lily

Cre

ek L

agoo

n in

set

Skeg Rock

0 1.0

Kilometres

0.25.0

Nautical Miles

0 0.1

KununurraNot to be used for navigation.

For recreational use only.

TAKE CARE BE PROP AWARE

TAKE CARE BE PROP AWARE

Lateral MarksIndicate the port and starboard sides

of a navigable channel.

Port MarksLight: Red, any rhythm.

Starboard MarksLight: Green, any rhythm.

Downstream/direction

of ebb tide

Keep

to yo

ur rig

ht in

a ch

anne

lGreen to green upstream

Red to green downstream

Upstream/direction

Recreational Skipper’s TicketThe person in charge of a recreational vessel with a motor of 6 horsepower or less is not required to hold a Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST).

The skipper in charge of a recreational vessel with a motor greater than 6 horsepower is required to hold a RST and carry it with them while boating.

Age restrictionsA person under 10 years may not drive a motor boat. RST holders over 14 but under 16 years of age are restricted to operating during daylight hours at a speed less than 8 knots.

Interstate skipper’s tickets If you hold a valid/current interstate ticket, recognised by DoT and you enter, as a visitor or with the intention of permanently residing in WA, you have three months to have the qualification recognised.

WARNING! — Crocodiles

j

Celebrity Tree Park

Lily

Creek

Lagoon

Hamilton

Inlet

Ivan

hoe

Rd

Messm

ate Way

Old Darwin RdBandicoot D

r

Cas

uarin

a W

ay

Poinciana St

Mango St

Boss

ea S

t

Hibiscus Dr

Eugenia St

Bloodwood Dr

River Gum

Ave

Gre

ville

a Av

e

Dianella W

ay

Barding Loop

Old Darwin Rd CommercialMooring Area

Ord River

0 0.15 km

0 0.1 mi

CCTV used on WA Waterways

Lily Creek Lagoon

ARGYLE

Lake ArgyleVillage

LAKE

ROAD

ORD RIVER D

AM

Ord R

iver

Bamboo Cove

Lake

8 Knots

Argyle

0 0.1 0.2 0.3

Nautical Miles

0 500

Metres

100Lake ArgyleNot to be used for navigation.

For recreational use only.

Ord

River

Ord

Spill

Way

Ord River

Echo Pt

JJJ Camp

SpillwayCanoe Camp

Metres

Nautical Miles

0 0.1 0.2 0.3

0 500100

Jump RockNot to be used for navigation.

For recreational use only.

TAKE CARE BE PROP AWARE

NOTE: 2

All waters of Lake Argyle are deemed Unprotected Waters.

Please refer to safety equipment matrix.

8 Knot Speed Restricted Area

5 Knot Speed Restricted Area

Water Ski Area

Closed Waters - All Vessels

Swimming Prohibited

LEGEND

Closed Waters - Motorised Vessels

Commercial Mooring Area

Water Ski Direction Arrow

Boat Ramp

Port Spar Buoy/ Starboard Spar Buoy

Spar Buoy/ Isolated Danger Bouy

Lateral marks

Indicate the port and starboard sides of a navigable channel.

Port marks

Light: Red, any rhythm.

Starboard marks

Light: Green, any rhythm.

Downstream/direction

of ebb tideKeep to your right in a channel

Green to green upstream

Red to green downstream

Upstream/direction

RED

HEA

D

EDD

Y POIN

TPA

TCH

POIN

T

HA

Y POIN

T

PEND

ERPO

INT

PILE POIN

T

MA

NG

RO

VE POIN

T

Helby Island

Oneball Island

Russell

IslandOtw

ay Island

Beck Rocks

Patch

RoeBank

Parry

Creek

SellersCreek

M a n g r o v e s

Ma

ng

ro

ve

s

M a n g r o v e s

Ma

ng

ro

ves

Coastal Beacon

Salamander Beacon

Jane Hill

Red H

ill(C

oastal Hillock)

EA

ST

AR

M

MID

DLE

GRO

UN

D

Bank

Forrest

River

HILL

RANGE

VIEW

Main

Channel

Obstn

Tidal Mud Flats

Tidal Mud Flats

Tidal Mud Flats

Tidal

Mud

Flats

Ma

ng

ro

ve

s

WE

ST

AR

M

Mt W

ilshereabt 262m

Leading Hills

82m

Drayson Peak

230m

Mound H

ill126m

Stevens

Channel

228° 03'

156° 45'

45° 13'

41 ° 971

Fl 3s 6.5m 6.5M

Fl G 3s 3M

Fl R 5s 4M

Fl G 3s 3M

Fl. Y. 3s

Fl. Y. 3s

Fl. Y. 3s

Fl. Y. 3s

Q. Y.

Oc 3s 6m

8M

Oc 10s 20m

10M

Iso 4s 6M

F Bu 4MF Bu 4M

Fl 3s 4M

Q 6M

LAFFA

N PO

INT

Canal Creek

East

336° 45'

M a n g r o v e s

THE

BASTION

RANGE

Myrmidon

ANTH

ON

LAN

DIN

G

West Bastion

329m

The Knoll

Mt Archdeacon

Emu H

illabt 175m

Q(2) G

5s

Q. Y.

Q. Y.

Turning Buoy

01.0

Kilometres

Nautical M

iles

0

0.2

5.0

0.2

0.1

See Wyndham Port Inset Q(3) G

4s 8m 3M

VQ(3) 5s 4M

Fl R 3s 3M

Oc 3s 8m

5M

Fl R 3s 3M

Wyndham

Not to b

e used for navigation.

For recreational use only.

STON

Y POIN

T

Slipway

Wharf

AN

TH

ON

LAN

DIN

G

Wyndham

PortH

arbour Master

SMALL

VESSEL

ANC

HO

RAG

E

LIMITED

MO

OR

ING

CAU

TION

Depths m

ay vary

Koolama (1942)

Pteranodon

Q(2) G

5sTurning Buoy

Tower

(1998)

000.1

0.20.3

500

METR

ES

100

NAU

TICAL M

ILES

CCTV used on WA W

aterways

Wyndham

PortN

ot to be used

for navigation.For recreational use only.

Navig

ation lig

htsA

ll vessels underway during the hours

of sunset to sunrise must d

isplay

navigation lights appropriate to the particular size and type of vessel. For further inform

ation please visit our w

ebsite or call 13 11 56.

Tid

esThe K

imberley has som

e of the biggest tides in the w

orld – up to nine metres rise and fall every

six hours on spring tides.

The times and ranges of large tides can

determine w

hether launching and retrieval is possible as these tides are large enough to m

ake ramps unusable at certain tim

es.

The currents created by these large tides – know

n as tidal streams – can run as fast as

ten knots in the Kim

berley. This can have a m

ajor impact on your fuel consum

ption so plan ahead.

Make sure you check the tide charts before

your boating trip. Tide charts can be obtained from

ww

w.transport.w

a.gov.au/imarine

Vessel OvertakingAnother

Every overtaking vesselgives way (this includes

sailing vessels)

Each vessel alterscourse to starboard

Power Vessels M

eeting Head On

Vessel having theother to starboard gives right of way

Power Vessels M

eeting

Power gives way to sailexcept when sailing vessel is overtaking

Power Meeting

Sailing Vessel Ships in Channels

Basic rules of the waterw

ays

All vessels must keep clear of

ships using or approaching the m

arked navigation channel ships.

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m no

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ivan

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Navigation M

arks

Light Characteristics

Cardinal Marks

WA

RN

ING

- Trop

ical cyclone reg

ion

The north west of W

estern Australia experiences

more severe cyclones than any other p

art of the A

ustralian coastline and is one of the most

cyclone-prone coasts anywhere in the w

orld.

The cyclone season extends from

Novem

ber

through to April, but m

ost coastal impacts occur

in the period from January to M

arch.

Check the w

eather before heading out.

Reg

istration

Most boats or yachts m

ust be registered w

ith DoT and an annual

registration fee is payable.

Vessels that must b

e registered

If your boat has a motor, or is fitted

for one, it must be registered and is

subject to an annual registration fee. Yachts, canoes, surf skis and other craft not fitted for a m

otor, are not required to be registered.

Placem

ent of reg

istration sticker

To be displayed on the port (left) side of the vessel, outside and im

mediately adjacent to the

registration number.

Interstate vesselsIf your boat is registered in another state, you have three m

onths after bringing it into W

A to register it w

ith D

oT (recreational boats brought in from

the Northern Territory have only

30 days).

Lateral Marks

Indicate the port and starboard sides of a navigable channel.

Port Marks

Light: Red, any rhythm.

Starboard Marks

Light: Green, any rhythm.

Downstream/direction

of ebb tide

Keep to your right in a channel

Green to green upstream

Red to green downstream

Upstream/direction

Unprotected Waters

see NOTE: 1 Unprotected Waters

see NOTE: 1

Unprotected Waters

see NOTE: 1

WAR

NIN

G! —

Crocodiles

WAR

NIN

G! —

Crocodiles

Marine rad

ioP

lease remem

ber to log on and to log off w

ith the local Marine R

escue.

Provide your vessel’s:

• nam

e

• registration num

ber or call sign

• departure point

• destination

• trip intentions

• num

ber of people on board

• fuel carried

• estim

ated time for return.

This is vital information in case of an

emergency.

Contact E

ast Kim

berley Marine R

escue (V

MR

699) on channel 16 VH

F or 27.88 M

Hz or V

HF repeater channel 80

(the Bastion R

epeater) and 81 (Lacrosse Island R

epeater)

Boat launching ram

p

Public toilet

WAR

NIN

G! - C

rocodiles

0

KILOM

ETRES

255

BA

C

D

E

F

GH

IJ

K

L

M N

Cam

bridge

Gulf

West Arm

Boundary Corner C

oordinatesD

atum G

DA 94

Point Easting Northing

River

Forrest

River

PentacostRiver

Durack

River

KingRiver

AdolphusIsland

LacrosseIsland

LegendSeaw

ard Boundary of C

ambridge G

ulf

Cam

bridge Gulf

Closed w

aters - All vessels

Coastline

WY

ND

HA

M

14° 43' 02"14° 44' 09"14° 45' 32"14° 47' 43"15° 15' 24"15° 16' 27"15° 29' 23"15° 29' 32"15° 37' 12"15° 37' 00"15° 36' 39"15° 36' 10"15° 18' 41"15° 18' 09"

128° 13' 11"128° 17' 42"128° 19' 59"128° 25' 02"128° 14' 55"128° 13' 34"128° 04' 21"128° 04' 07"127° 51' 29"127° 50' 45"127° 50' 16"127° 50' 33"128° 03' 58"128° 03' 58"

ABCDEFGHIJKLMN

Ord

Unprotected Waters

within the area of the Cam

bridge GulfN

OTE: 1

All waters indicated in this chart are

deemed Unprotected W

aters. Please refer to the safety equipm

ent matrix.

Rem

ember to

LOG

ON

LOG

OFF!

Every trip

Departm

ent of Transp

ort

VHFCh 16

Distress & calling

RadioCh 67

Safety & emergency

72, 73, 77* Recreational & w

orking

VHF Repeaters21, 22, 80, 81, 82

* Recreational & working

27 MHz

Ch 88Distress & calling

RadioCh 86

Safety & emergency

90, 91, 94, 96* Recreational & w

orking

* Co

ntact VM

R g

roup

s for lo

cal inform

ation

ww

w.dfes.wa.gov.au/contactus/pages/volunteerm

arinerescueservices.aspx

Be

ac

on

s an

d fl

are

s mu

st be

in-d

ate