Hi,

Just to declare upfront I am a windsurfer not a kiter. Also I don't hate kiters, we are all cut from the same cloth , we just ride different things.
BUT , can the kiters around Penguin Island PLEASE obey the Starboard rule of sailing. IE if a sailing craft is on a Starboard tack (Wind is on the right hand side of board) they have right of way. This rule is how collisions are avoided.
Twice yesterday I had to steer around kiters who sailed in front of me while I was on a nice fast downwind run. Both times I had right of way but had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Also as a slalom bias windurfer I am not in the business of turning quickly, we like to go fast in a straight line.
An easy way to remember this is, if your right hand is forward you have right of way, if your left is forward, you don't have right of way and you must give way to other sailing craft.
Please remember and obey the Starboard rule and we can all have fun.

Couldn't believe how many kites were down at penguin island way yesterday arvo. Nearly as many as in the pond.

Nice easy way to remember the starboard rule, thanks for that.

had some windsurfers rip past me yesterday's, man you guys can motor !

Hi Skipd

Unfortunately there's an increasing amount of Retarded kiters who genuinely don't know or practice this rule...

Best to treat every kiter like a Retard to avoid a situation -unfortunately..

Equally as hard to get kiters to raise or lower kites when passing opposite directions in close quarters.

thanks for the heads up skipd......a number of beginners build up their hours in that spot....not an excuse as many of them are ex-windsurfers. Will spread the word in any case.

Are the kiting schools and trainers teaching basic sailing rules and etiquette?

If not then I foresee a time when the licensing issue will raise its ugly head again.

New generation of Kiters - like Millennials - Everything is everyone else's fault.

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SaveTheWhales said..


Best to treat every kiter like a Retard to avoid a situation -unfortunately..

Equally as hard to get kiters to raise or lower kites when passing opposite directions in close quarters.

This. Had to do a few dive bombs on those retarded 'high-kiters' at my local the other day, I don't think they understood why though..... oh well it was fun anyway

I spent the last two weeks kiting at Kalpitiya. Had to dodge people multiple times, had kites dropped on me...it's ridiculous. So many people now don't understand the basic right of way rules. How on earth does this simple concept not get taught in lessons.

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Hybrid_Z said..
I spent the last two weeks kiting at Kalpitiya. Had to dodge people multiple times, had kites dropped on me...it's ridiculous. So many people now don't understand the basic right of way rules. How on earth does this simple concept not get taught in lessons.

That is a massive assumption....

I've kind of noticed a coloration between traffic conditions and kiting etiquette...
You ever ridden/driven around places like kalpitiya...? Perth for that matter..?

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theDoctor said..

I've kind of noticed a coloration between traffic conditions and kiting etiquette...
You ever ridden/driven around places like kalpitiya...? Perth for that matter..?

I think you meant correlation.... not coloration. Unless you are referring to the color (colour) of the cars or people.

Hey, thanks for all the positive feedback. I wasn't sure how that would be taken .
Yes I agree this rule should be taught to people if they take a lesson. I have done windsurfing lessons (best windsurfing money I ever spent) and not been taught this or it even mentioned or considered.
I guess in general we do not do the tacking and maneuvering that yachties do and this rule is what avoids , well most of the time , copious amounts of damage being done.
Never the less it is an easy rule to keep us safe and avoid being hurt or angry.
On one of the occasions yesterday at Safety Bay the kiter and I were on the same tack, a downwind tack, the section is perfect for flat out speed, so all I can do is go straight , all effort is concentrated on not ditching it and moving with the wind. Directional change is very very slow. The kiter was travelling a lot slower , and I find it hard to judge what a kiter is going to do I went up wind of the kiter and killed my run. As I was higher on the wind and approaching I must give way until I am level with kiter, at this point I must steer my usual course and the kiter must keep clear of me. As we are traveling at vastly different speed and angles the element of surprise gives me I think the obligation to give way, BUT it would be great if the kiter understood I can't change direction or slow down quickly and actually didn't make me have to kill my run.
It's all about being considerate of how we go about our sports.

Wow i can't belive the schools don't teach this with a $77 scoopon deal. Way back in the naughtys I was thought to just jump over Any craft headed for ya. It's second nature now regardless of who it is lol. At our spot we also try grab the poleys booms before they get the chance to reach Mach speed coming out of their transitions. Of late I've been using the kite as a wind block also trying to see if I can slow them down for longer then power up and transition the other way. Only sometimes is it an issue when there's a new poley on the scene. This old dude shreds at our spot I really enjoy him shaking his fist at me for some reason it's like kiting with a great great grandparent. I think he's 40 or so. Things seem really full on at the bay of safety's.

You can't assume the problem is because of principally because of lack of instruction during lessons. This is because there could be a fair percentage of people learning off their mates. Seen it myself at my local. One clueless kook teaches another who then teaches another and on it goes...

also another thesis is kiting is a lot easier to learn than windsurfing...it attracts a lot of people who aren't and never will be waterman and women. Therefore we get this lack of intuition on the water.

the other simple solution is to avoid crowded spots, not sure how that fares in aust version of tarifa

I must admit that there are more kiters not respecting the right of way rules these days, but at the same time the kite spots are getting a bit busier each year.

It's easy to blame schools for the lack of instruction about the right of way rules. A few points worth considering:

- Only a smaller percentage of students book enough lessons to the point where there are comfortable riding the board over more than a few meters. In other words, most students don't get far enough in their tuition where it's appropriate to teach them right of way rules. (we provide comprehensive images and videos about this anyways).

- Students and newbies often don't have good enough control and confidence to apply the right of way rules even if they know them very well. It takes experience, great control and confidence to be able put this knowledge into practice. Beginners will often stop when they fear a collision and keep their kite at 12'. This isn't ideal for others to pass but at least it sends a clear message to the other kiters around that they are learning and that it's best to keep a safe distance from them.

- Remember that we were all learners at one point and that we all made mistakes and most likely we all made others kiters or windsurfers angry by not respecting the right of way rules whether it's simply by inexperience or simply by not paying enough attention.

- The best approach is to take time to talk to the kiters who are at fault and explain them the right of way rules if they don't know them. Kiters on this forum are well informed and the ones that are targeted by this thread won't be reading it.

Christian

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THE PIN PULLER said..
Wow i can't belive the schools don't teach this with a $77 scoopon deal. Way back in the naughtys I was thought to just jump over Any craft headed for ya. It's second nature now regardless of who it is lol. At our spot we also try grab the poleys booms before they get the chance to reach Mach speed coming out of their transitions. Of late I've been using the kite as a wind block also trying to see if I can slow them down for longer then power up and transition the other way. Only sometimes is it an issue when there's a new poley on the scene. This old dude shreds at our spot I really enjoy him shaking his fist at me for some reason it's like kiting with a great great grandparent. I think he's 40 or so. Things seem really full on at the bay of safety's.