Hi people, I'm curious to get some opinions on something that happened to me on the weekend. It seemed kind of rude to me, but as I'm relatively new to this I don't really know.

I was tacking out from the shore, coming roughly head to head with a bloke coming in to shore. I was going slightly upwind of him so I raised my kite, he lowered his and everything was hunkey-dorey. Then, just as we were getting close he decided he wanted to go more upwind and tacks straight in front of me, causing me to take some evasive action, and ultimately (more a result of my skill level) just park it and sit there waiting for him to pass me as, by now, I had no freaking idea what he was going to do and I thought I'd rather sit in the water for a few seconds than spend the next 30 mins untangling our lines. The moment he was around me, he pops a big jump and sails downwind without so much as a nod.

Now, sure I wasn't holding a very upwind line (I'd been out for about 3hrs and my legs were like jelly) but to me it was akin to cutting someone off in a car and, given how close we were when he moved, I was pretty pissed and thought it was damned dangerous.

The thing is, I spoke to this guy the next day (not realising until later that it was him) and he didn't seem like the sort of person who'd do something intentionally rude like that - in fact he was instructing a student(!) - which makes me think that perhaps jungle-law applies and I should just dry my eyes (which I wouldnt be overly-happy with, but would accept).

Thoughts? Comments?

Sk

u freaked out, he was in control. next time dont park your kite as you will end up getting even more in the way.

If you cant hold an upwind line go downwind of the other person.

the way it works for most crew is, you both go as hard upwind as you can whoever gets upwind wins the other yields. You were ****ing the other guy about by claiming the upwind advantage then not actually going through with it, meaning he would have to ease up a little (frustrating!). Instead he just kept at it and got really close.

The other reason is the guy could tell where you were heading and set his line accordingly so as to just nip in behind you. Its pretty easy to do, if he ends up getting too close he will just ease up on his rail and head downwind a bit. This relies on you being competent and maintaing a line though, AND NOT STOPPING DEAD!!!

The only way you two could have hit is if you werent going upwind aswell as him, in which case you prolly should have given way to him.

If u dont like the guy getting that close you can always just throw some spray at him and give him the finger.

You had right of way as you where leaving the shore.

However there is always exception's,

But it sound's like he is just some stubborn clown. And he should have known better being an instructor. Shame on him.

Parking your kite might anoy a few people but at least you show to them your intention's, I say way better then tangled line's and fistie's at the beach...

I reckon you did the right thing, good on ya

Sounds like he was posing to me.

That sort of stuff happens allt he time when you are learning, and I reckon parking it is the best way to go, then you take the guess work out of it and you're not gonna cause any more confusion.

Either that or just drop way down wind of them and then continue on, that neautralises it as well.

Welcome to the pecking order!

If the other rider was able to cut upwind of you,then you should give way.

Sounds a bit like he made a decision based on your ability versus his.

If you had to park your kite instead of giving in and bearing off,it sounds like the right decision. You probably weren't as upwind as you thought,and he made a decision based on that.
But,hey,don't get your knickers in a knot over it! Its just a regular thing on the water.

Just keep at it,and next time you may find the other rider will yield.

You did the best and safest thing as you didnt know what the other guy was doing. You were holding your line. The other guy changed direction at the last minute and then poped a jump infront of you. The guy was a loser and sounds selfish. If you went down wind it sounds as though the guy was oblivious to other kiters and would have jumped anyway and landed on you.

All boating rules are to avoid an accident at all cost, even if you have right of way. You did well. Could have been an honest mistake but if not then other guy was a tool.

Everybeach i kite at there is a SHOW OFF zone for guys with small peckers. Just got to learn who these guys are and stay away from them.

Hey SK
This same thing happens to me frequently and I still cant figure out what to do (I can stay upwind, begining my second season). If its someone I know then it usually works out ok, but with someone I dont know, I often end up doing the same last minute evasive action and being pissed off at the lack of courtesy shown to me trying while to do the right thing (starboard/right tack and upwind has right of way).
I am too scared to risk a tangle and worried my developing skills are going come unstuck when someone else puts me under too much pressure.

I seem to spend a lot of time with bum in the water and kite parked while trying to figure out what everyone else is doing...

Nic

I've never had that happen before. When i first see someone coming towards me, I go upwind harder than i was, and if he /she goes even higher upwind, I ease off and go downwind of them. The challenge is over before anyone is close enough to cause problems, and you often get a thankyou wave for letting people go. Its a good thing. Its all give and take.

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Rob C said...

Everybeach i kite at there is a SHOW OFF zone for guys with small peckers.

Sounds like Dolls, well the show off zone at least.

My philosophy on this is to give newbies space for their sake and mine.

Skinner, it sounds like you did all the right things. The other guy was kiting erratically which amongst kiters with experience is annoying and he deserves wording up but around beginners is dangerous. Good on you for taking the safe option and parking your kite at 12. To me this is the safest option for someone who's not entirely comfortable with controlling their kite. Everyone knows where you are and you're way more predictable.

And User, Carbine - presumably you guys were learners once?? Were those better than you at the time so harsh and unhelpful?

Hey guys, thanks for the good spread of responses.
If I'd have known that it was going to be an upwind competition with him, ordinarily I would have made some effort to go higher upwind, but as it was, I was pretty knackered and content with the line I was taking. Had he indicatd to me that he wanted to go upwind of me (instead of lowering his kite) I would have happily yielded to him - which would have been possible had he not cut across my bow at the last second. At that point, I think that if I'd have moved my kite in any direction but the other way would have crossed swords, which is why I parked it.

I'm happy to accept a pecking order, and will always try my best to stay out of the way of someone who is better than me. I too get frustrated by rank beginners who seem to always be in the way, but I also remember that it was only 5 minutes ago I was floundering around like they are.

I guess some better riders forget though that if they yield its much easier for them to get back upwind but for beginners it will usually mean a walk of shame.

Drying my eyes now...

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Dawn Patrol said...

I've never had that happen before. When i first see someone coming towards me, I go upwind harder than i was, and if he /she goes even higher upwind, I ease off and go downwind of them. The challenge is over before anyone is close enough to cause problems, and you often get a thankyou wave for letting people go. Its a good thing. Its all give and take.

I like this approach with one exception:
if i am in the right according to boating rules, and we're both heading upwind at the same rate, i will keep heading up-wind. If said other person doesnt know when to give way, ill be sure to tell him as we are parked in the water because neither would give way.