Sunday 11/10/15 afternoon fish out from fishy s [mornnigton],quiet a swell running with an offshore wind, so l didn't go out to my usual spot 18meters out, but was 200mts off the beacon posts, looking back l see a guy on a paddle yak trying to balance another yak across ways on his deck, so lines up and anchor up l head across to give a hand thinking the wind had blown the other yak out to sea and he was trying to retrieve it.
as l got over to him, by this time he was in the water trying to swim both yaks in an no PFD just a white tee shirt , so l told him to get on his yak and l took hold of the other one to take it in.going back in another yak came over, to assist, [he was heading out fishing] and gave as a tow rope.
towing the yak in talking to this guy, l asked him about the towed yak, he said it belonged to his brother who was a paraplegic, , so where is he l say, that's him over there in the water f**k l say, so we go over to his brother who cant get back on the yak because of his condition you see where this is going , so he hangs on to the yak and l tow him ashore.
they are parked at the boat ramp, easy wheel chair access, the girlfriend brings down a wheel chair, and alls sweet , then l let them have it, a lecture on safety etc. gee l was pissed.
so l headed out to fish a bit more, after about 1.5hrs the other yakker came by and l gave him his tow rope back, he said he didn't say much before because l looked so pissed, l told him the whole story, he said he passed the brother in the water swimming that was paraplegic and asked him if he was ok, said he was, not knowing his condition he headed out to us.
you all know the story, cheap ebay yaks and summer coming on, this was a near miss incident in my book, l certainly feel troubled by it
so keep safe every one.

As u said westy, some farkin stupid people out there in small yaks. Probably lucky that u two assisted..

I think a license regime is only a matter of time, but may stop some of this crazy stuff going on. Id be for it..
Well done to u for assisting

Go westy

It's called evolution, some make it, some don't...

Charles Darwin would be proud of yet another 'proof in the flesh' of his theories...

As for yak licenses, I can't see how that would make a scrap of difference (apart from boosting the coffers of the gov.).

Look at car licensing and their are still more than enough far-quits on the road...

Mike.

Fair call mike bit it may arouse some awareness, and keep a few off the water.
I mean for 300 any idiot can get a "yak" and get out there..???

It'd be better if they came up with a 'seaworthy' certification for yaks or something and if you get caught in a non-certified one more than 50m for shore you get a fine.
You could have something like 3m or more in length, or you must have a rudder if under 3m in length for example.

4liters wrote:It'd be better if they came up with a 'seaworthy' certification for yaks or something and if you get caught in a non-certified one more than 50m for shore you get a fine.
You could have something like 3m or more in length, or you must have a rudder if under 3m in length for example.

Wouldn't make any difference, you are supposed to have a PFD and that is often ignored. As for the number of times I 've seen toddlers sitting on their parents laps.

No, but at least they'd have no excuse.

Retreived this type from off shore at Bermagui....runabout, zero safety gear.....ZERO!! We supplied the tow rope

Pusts us at risk, screws the days fishing for which we were properly equipt and for what....they were out there broken down the next day...some other sucker got the short straw that day...

Good on ya for lending a hand
Truly are some stupid people out there.