I agree with Gorgo. Discretion and caution is better than trusting that everyone knows about and follows right of way rules.

If in doubt, kiters can easily stop and go back the other way to completely, thus completely avoiding a collision.

Its worth doing this if there are any other obstacles or hazards about such as other kiters or fixed objects.

If you do stop and you are downwind and the other kiter is still coming, remember to keep your kite low. Conversely, if you are upwind, keep you kite high.

I noticed Windxtasy talking about blind spots. That implies he is riding behind and slightly upwind of the kiter or even a little downwind.

Technically the rider in front has right of way but has to maintain course and keep a lookout. The rider behind can overtake on either side but has to make sure not to obstruct the rider in front. If you have converged on the same course then the downwind craft has the right of way.

To my mind, a kiter or windsurfer has a blind spot behind them. They should look but there's a fair chance they may not see the rider behind.

If you're riding behind and downwind then you're blocking the person in front from turning. ie. You're tailgating.

If there's a beach in front or you're approaching a wave then there's a fair chance the rider in front is going to turn, especially if there's a beach in the way. What else are they going to do? Crash into the beach?

So if you're tailgating the rider in front, you put yourself in that position. They may not see you but you can definitely see them. Get out of the blind spot. Go somewhere else. Slow down. Turn. Do something. Stop riding along in the blind spot of somebody else.

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Gorgo said...
I noticed Windxtasy talking about blind spots. That implies he is riding behind and slightly upwind of the kiter or even a little downwind.

Technically the rider in front has right of way but has to maintain course and keep a lookout. The rider behind can overtake on either side but has to make sure not to obstruct the rider in front. If you have converged on the same course then the downwind craft has the right of way.

To my mind, a kiter or windsurfer has a blind spot behind and downwind of them. They should look but there's a fair chance they may not see the rider behind.

If you're riding behind and downwind then you're blocking the person in front from turning. ie. You're tailgating.

If there's a beach in front or you're approaching a wave then there's a fair chance the rider in front is going to turn, especially if there's a beach in the way. What else are they going to do? Crash into the beach?

So if you're tailgating the rider in front, you put yourself in that position. They may not see you but you can definitely see them. Get out of the blind spot. Go somewhere else. Slow down. Turn. Do something. Stop riding along in the blind spot of somebody else.

I had this happen a few times the other day.
I'm riding towards shore, there's a guy coming or about to come out from the beach, or a learner body dragging during a lesson, so I realise I have to turn around to keep out of their way, i go to look over my shoulder before I turn and there's a tailgater got me trapped.

And that's not to mention the couple of people who seemed to want to play chicken.
I'm happy to get out of the way, but sometimes there seems to be those that don't want to budge on their line of travel at all, even if I'm on the starboard tack.

Agree with gorgo's last 2 posts,

Also if the ROW rules applied directly to kiters they could keep their kite low on a starboard tack effectively making a 25m wide vessel (vessel? :) ) forcing others to go much further downwind which is stupid

i got instruction on ROW rules for kiters in my lessons but i dont believe it is regulation or if there are any regulations regarding lessons
(no legal set of rules and safety that must be taught in order to be an instructor)

*if someone knows differently on this feel free to tell me im wrong :)

The ROW rules are required for your boat licence. Kiteboarders and windsurfers are technically boats (even though we don't have licences) so technically the ROW rules are law.

That's not the issue. The issue is avoiding collisions and every ROW rule has a "... do this and this and this ... and avoid collisions." There is an explicit understanding that the rules can fail.

My assertion is that the size and speed and maneuverability of kiteboards and sailboards renders the bulk of the rules mostly, and to proceed straight to the "... avoid collisions ..." bit. There is just too much going on to simplistically apply a rule in a context it was not designed for.

Experienced kiters should ride up or down to the next beach and play away from newbs. Newbs should be a bit more careful about what they are doing and consider coming back another time when it is less crowded.

Everybody should avoid yachts and power boats and ships and whatever. Calling starboard on a racing fleet is likely to get you run over.

Everybody should slow down when going through the pack. This last one particularly applies to windsurfers who have a habit of riding as fast as possible and have limited steering abilities.