The owner of the jet ski company involved in a collision with a windsurfer has called for all water sports users to be required to follow the speed limit at Golden Beach,

Ken Jeffreys of Caloundra Jetski said the rider had been third in line, going six knots an hour, “walking pace”, in a group when the accident happened.

He declined to comment on the details of what happened, but said it was time all watercraft users followed the six knots an hour speed limit.

“The speed limits need to be enforceable across all sectors in narrow navigational channels,” he said.

“We all need to respect each other.”

Under existing legislation, only motorised craft are required to follow the speed limits.

“We have got to find ways to all live together,” Mr Jeffreys said.

He has been operating the jet ski company for four years and has a proud safety and customer satisfaction record.

“We are rated five stars on Tripadvisor and Facebook,” he said.

He witnessed the incident where the windsurfer was damaged and towed its rider back to shore.

“We left on amicable terms,” he said.

But he was frustrated by calls from a windsurfer to ban jet skis from the area as he believed there was a way to work together.

“Nothing is achieved by blaming one sector over another sector,” he said.

“We need to sit down and work out the problem, I would like to do that with windsurfers in Caloundra.

“It would be nice to have them appreciate and understand how I operate.”

Mr Jeffreys said some jet skiers were known to get frustrated with windsurfers going too fast.

“We are sharing a waterway, we have to try and manage safety as best we can.

“All of the time we go through there, we go through at six knots.  This should apply to everybody.”

Mr Jeffreys said he did not like to be involved in any sort of collision, but safety had to something “we all embrace”.

“It can’t be one sector that takes responsibility for everybody,” he said.

“Windsurfers have responsibility for their own safety.”

EARLIER: A windsurfer was hit and new equipment trashed after a collision with a jet ski rider at Golden Beach.

The incident has sparked tensions between windsurfers and jet ski riders on the popular stretch of waterway.

Windsurfers have aired their frustration on a windsurfing forum, Seabreeze, claiming it was only a matter of time before someone was seriously hurt.

One has called for jet skis to be banned from Golden Beach and Cotton Tree.

“I had the kids catching waves on the stand-up paddleboard (sup) at Cotton Tree last weekend, it was absolutely packed with 500 odd people stretched over the beach and sand bars,” wrote kiteboy dave.

“Beach kites, kite-surfing, sups, boogie boards, fishermen, kids digging holes, swimmers (were) all having a great time doing their thing and getting along together.

“And then there’s three jet skis playing in the waves most of the afternoon, spreading noise pollution over the whole area.

“Three people getting their enjoyment at the expense of 500 others. So selfish it’s unbelievable.”

A witness called BC posted on the forum that the windsurfer had been moving “slowly across the channel when he was struck” by the jet ski last week.

It was understood the jet ski rider was part of a group on a tour and “was not looking where he was going as he was moving along slowly as well”.

” My first thoughts were that these collisions only happen on the Gold Coast,” the writer said.

“In this case, it was the third jet ski in a line of six, led by an instructor, that did the damage.

“It’s not the sharks you have to fear.”

It is understood the ambulance service was called, although the injuries weren’t severe.

The witness believed kite-surfers were the biggest danger on the waterway.

” I still think that the small group of kiters who sail across where we sail pose a greater risk,” the witness said.

“Especially the cowboy types. They have other spots along the passage where the kites congregate but seem to prefer sailing where we are.

“You need eyes in the back of your head when they start doing their tricks.”

The witness said the jet ski group leader was “most apologetic and helpful” after the incident.

The Daily has contacted a local jet ski hire company for comment.

Golden Beach Hire manager, Nicky Dunfhea, said the jet skiers were “crazy” in the area..

This hire company specialises in renting out windsurfers, kayaks and other non-motorised equipment,

“It’s not all of them, but they speed up and down here so fast, Ms Dunfhea said.

Click here for full article by Kathy Sundstrom – Sunshine Coast Daily – photo by Brett Wortman