I remember seeing a thread once about how to sail safely at Sandy P. but I cant find it. As a first timer at speed fortnight can someone tell us a few things we need to know so everyone comes back in one piece.

if your going to jibe look behind you first,i saw a few get quite close to kato but no wonder trying to look though that helmet

I'm in the same boat, our run is quite wide, and there's never a big crowd.
Speed fortnight looks like being very busy.
I assume there's a queue at the start waiting for the next gust?
Can you jump the queue if nobody in front is interested?
How big a gap do you leave from the person in front before going?

This is what i posted last time

Guide Lines for sailing at Sandy Point , particularly on south west days

œ If your sailing with your right hand forward (Starboard Tack) you have right of way: ie sail your course and be positive about your direction so that the other water users can go around you. (Does not apply to kites. Kites should always pass on the downwind side when on opposing tacks)

œ When you are on the speed course, look behind you before gybing or tacking. It takes the speed sailors/kiters about 30 seconds to run the whole course. They arrive very quickly.

œ If doing tricks/jumping on the course, have a quick look behind before starting. Try and not do tricks/jumps directly in front of speedies.

œ When coming tacking back up the course, have several good looks up wind before going into the bank as there may be some one coming down. Sail into the bank behind them, slow down or stall into the water rather than crossing in front of them. The wake from your board may cause the ridder to crash at very high speed.

œIf you are going up wind along the bank, move away from edge to when another craft is approaching you on the course

œ Before jumping off the bank look up wind for anyone coming along the course

œ When pulling up on the bank try not to let you mast and sail drop back. The speed sailor passing behind you at 40 knots ,trying to stay close to the bank does not want to collect it.

œ Give Kiters room. They have as much right to sail there as any other water user.

œ Kiters should always try and pass on the downwind side when windsurfers and kiters are on an opposing, potential collision course.

œ Kiters should be aware of windsurfers approaching from behind and allow them water room to overtake upwind.

œ Play nice, go fast and have fun

œ Look behind before jybing

Decrepit,there can be a queue on the bank of a few sailors and you might have a short wait but some are waiting for that stronger gust so if your not fussed you can jump through. Most of the time I will jybe and head back down and not pull into the bank. As to the gap, it will be up to each sailor.You just want to stay clear of their track and far enough away to avoid them if they crash. You could start 2m behind Spotty and still not catch him down the course. It is easier than it sounds and its just about having fun and no agro

Thanks kato, that sounds like basic common sense.

Now someone just needs to inform the wider kiting world about that whole passing downwind thing on a bank, and the "don't pull up on a bank in the middle of a speed run" thing.

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KenHo said...

Now someone just needs to inform the wider kiting world about that whole passing downwind thing on a bank, and the "don't pull up on a bank in the middle of a speed run" thing.

We have and they,re pretty good ,most of the time

I just the opposite experience at Elliott Hds this year and it was very frustrating . The river is getting pretty tight there.

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kato said...

KenHo said...

Now someone just needs to inform the wider kiting world about that whole passing downwind thing on a bank, and the "don't pull up on a bank in the middle of a speed run" thing.

We have and they,re pretty good ,most of the time

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decrepit said...

I'm in the same boat, our run is quite wide, and there's never a big crowd.
Speed fortnight looks like being very busy.
I assume there's a queue at the start waiting for the next gust?
Can you jump the queue if nobody in front is interested?
How big a gap do you leave from the person in front before going?

When you can try to give people at least 100 meters on take off so you dont ride their wake or get their backwash off the bank.
When sailing off the bottom end of the bank to go back upwind try and make sure there is a good distance before the next sailor coming towards you,as this is the fastest section and people will often get more pissed off about jumping your wake at 40+ than if you jumped them at the starting line(not me of course as I think i'm immuned too wakes from sailing with the Ka boys to often).

Thanks Mr screw, this is the sort of thing we need to know.

Great info guys i look forward to fanging down the drag strip

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Bender said...

Great info guys i look forward to fanging down the drag strip

I'm going to stick my foot out and trip you as your coming down the strip

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choco said...

Bender said...

Great info guys i look forward to fanging down the drag strip

I'm going to stick my foot out and trip you as your coming down the strip

No worries Choco, it shouldn't be a problem though as out speed courses are full of bumps that try an trip you up all the time, especially the weed and rocks