With kiters and windsurfers often using the same area of water we need to establish a set of guidelines to ensure safe use of the water. Can we develop a number of simple rules between both camps and get Laurie to post them up for all to follow

I wouldn’t be that sure that the guys on the other forums will take that much notice. You only have to read some of their post on a similar subject to see that most would eat their young, in preference to following any guidelines.[}:)]
Any attempt in the past on that very subject in that area has mostly ended in WW3

Between Waterways (in NSW), Colregs and ISAF's Racing rules there are enough rles without making a new set. Waterways and Colregs are enforced by law and not negotiable
ISAF's Racing Rules of Sailing cover competitions and do not supercede any local legislation but are aditional rules that try to cover specific circumstances. If there is a serious collision both parties are penalised by ISAF so as not to give the impression that Right of Way is absolute. There is no prize for dying while enforcing Right of Way.

General rules I obey (an amalgam of the above)

Different tack: Starboard has rights over Port
Same Tack: Windward Boat keeps clear

Overtaking craft keeps clear
Kites lift lines if passing upwind of windsurfer
Check behind/downwind if gybing/boosting

Avoid a collision at all costs
Do not change course to put yourself into a right of way (ROW) position without allowing the non ROW craft ample opportunity to keep clear.

Acknowledge when someone does the right thing (if you can).
Shout out if you think the other craft has not seen you.

As a courtesy I give way to boats that are racing.


JB

Hi Old Salty,

The longer you spend around other water users, the easier it is to figure out how to pass safely.

The general rule is this:
* Watch to see where your paths will cross.
1) If you know you'll miss the other guy then change direction slightly to make the gap bigger.
2) If you are heading straight for someone then, and only then, make a large assertive change in direction. This puts you back into situation 1 so you both know what's going on.
3) Kiters will move their kite up or down for other kites, but this doesn't really work with windsurfers.

All this port and starboard stuff, overtaking vessel keeps clear etc is all well and good if you're in a big boat, but with kites and windsurfers most of them don't understand the rules. Follow the rules above and you'll be fine

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nebbian said...


The general rule is this:
* Watch to see where your paths will cross.

2) If you are heading straight for someone then, and only then, make a large assertive change in direction. This puts you back into situation 1 so you both know what's going on.


All this port and starboard stuff, overtaking vessel keeps clear etc is all well and good if you're in a big boat, but with kites and windsurfers most of them don't understand the rules. Follow the rules above and you'll be fine

What if the "large assertive change in direction" is up onto the sandbank at speed???
When running on starboard the other day we were constantly being pinched up by riders going the other way. there was effectively no way to bear off (since we'd go right into their path) and there was no room to pinch higher since we were in extremely shallow water.
Altho' it may be a stretch to get all water users to accept, I reckon the port/starboard rule is the only way to ensure there isn't carnage..

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drift said...
>>>>>

What if the "large assertive change in direction" is up onto the sandbank at speed???
When running on starboard the other day we were constantly being pinched up by riders going the other way. there was effectively no way to bear off (since we'd go right into their path) and there was no room to pinch higher since we were in extremely shallow water.
Altho' it may be a stretch to get all water users to accept, I reckon the port/starboard rule is the only way to ensure there isn't carnage..

I don't see how port starboard helps when you're getting pushed into shallow water, may work on one tack but it's not going to on the other.

Kiters need to understand how long a windsurfer's fin is.

althou i very rarely sail with other ppl than my cousind ..

if a kiter or windsurering is coming at me from other tack i justy bear away .. go down wind 15feet a long way off so who eva he is knows what im doing ..
but the one time i wasnt paying atention and looking forward i missed the kiter coming at me .. he didnt duck donw wind even thou it was my fault .. as i looked up and noticed him infront of me i dumped the sail planted the back foot down hard and just sunk the tail and stalled ..fell into a water start positon ... he didnt stop didnt say **sorry mate ** or anny thing .. snuck to windward of me and went on his way like he is king **** and owned me or some thing...