Can some one tell me what the give way written rules are between the windsurfer and the kitesurfer inany brake where the two meet..seems to be no fkn rules at this learn as we go stage of the sport,that is kite ,and should be restricted to R and only soled under licence.So who decides the rules,or is it some sort of union?That rules.

Looks like i am stirring it up ; but i tell ya eventually there will be a do or die rule put in place...there has to be for everyones sake and thats it.peace to the eye

Do what I do, jump over them. But yes there are rules. Marine rules like if you meeting head on you should pass to the right side,,,,, traffic going out to sea has rightr of way etc. But I don`t take it for granted that the next person (kiter or windsurfer) know the rules so I make sure I just get out of their way, it`s no big deal to me. I`m out there to have fun and if it starts to get a crowded I move a bit to find my own space. Besides, all the poleys do is go in a straight line up and down up and down (yawn), let them get on with it.

move to Newcastle .Never enough wind for poles and on the odd occasion when there is there are plenty of other places to ride where there aren't any .

i dont come across any real issues with the local crew ( at the moment) they do a lot longer runs than kites do so its not too much of a deal to keep the space between us. i also give the ocassional wave "G'day" it goes a long way in keeping a happy environment. common sense does prevail in right of way as there is not generally enough known about right of way

From a poleys perspective:

Kiters take up lots more room than we do. If I'm on a collision course with a kiter, I'll try to go upwind because that means less 'swerve' for both of us. If the kiter is hell bent on going upwind of me then I'll go slightly downwind and we both pass with loads of room to spare.

Port and starboard rules only really apply on flat water, and even then they don't really apply to poleys and kiters... it's usually pretty clear who's going to go upwind of the other, and if it's not then one of us will make a sudden change of direction to indicate which way they want to go. This system seems to work quite well.

Right of way is something that beginners are often hung up on (I know I was!) but the more you go out in the surf, the more you understand how others behave and so can give everyone else lots of racing room. I honestly don't think much about it anymore, perhaps I've learned how to read other peoples body language on where they want to go.
The only time I have trouble is when people give way unnecessarily (like a newbie on a foil last weekend at scabs) or others who don't look before they gybe.

Hi Guys,

It's all very nice having rules of the road so long as everyone uses them .... or even knows them. This is a guide as to right of way for kiters.

kiteboardingschool.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=53

It is only a guide. Best bet is to just show consideration when on the water to ALL water users. Surf rules are pretty much universal. Keep an eye out for learners or beginners, they are usually pretty obvious and are the only ones who really need special consideration. Don't go too close to them, expect them to do something totally erratic and unexpected. They are generally consumed with flying the kite and will have less idea as to what to do when you approach and will often panic doing something illogical out of fear and confusion.

With regard to kiters and windsurfers, as Kiters we are generally the more manoeuvreable craft and should find it easier to give way to sailboards if on collision course. Keep in mind sailboarders are terrified of lines and will generally prefer to go upwind of you, so let them have the upwind side of the passing. It generally creates a more harmonious environment for all of us to enjoy the wind and water.

It's pretty easy to make eye contact with the other rider and signal or gesture what your intentions are. Smile as you go past and treat others how you would like to be treated.

Rules of the road are easy if you apply common sense and courtesy.

Good winds,

phrase said...

Do what I do, jump over them.

It wasn't quite jumping over them, but there I was one day at Pelican Point and had unconsciously tacked upwind into the path of the more downwind windsurfers. Just cruising along, keeping an eye out, and one of them had the hammer down right on my tail, catching up pretty effectively. By itself, he would have had to negotiate me as the overtaking craft, but there was another poley approaching on the opposite tack and somewhat downwind of my tack. Had old mate not been about to overtake me to my upwind I could have easily stayed upwind of oncoming poley, but I decided to avoid the situation entirely and absolutely reefed it skywards. One minute there was a multidimensional problem to consider, the next I was looking down from well above their masts and out of the equation altogether. I have to admit, as I spotted my landing and started my descent back to the water, I felt a bit of kite vs. poley pride for the fact that in that wind on that water no poley could ever jump that high.

Hey Guys,

Who has right of way (kiter and or Poley) when for example you are on a wave and a kiter/poley has has turned to go back out to sea in a fairly flat water area and has time to judge the situation. I would say the person on the wave:

1. In less controlled position to change course
2. The stoke

Another question is if you are heading into shore from way out backline and a kiter comes up behind you slightly downwind and nearly cuts your lines in half, who has right of way.

The reason for both these questions is I think there is a guy at a local beach that has done both of these issues and I was wondering if I was wrong or he was.

Cheers
Rich

As a poley I think the major source of confrontation is when a poley is trying to gybe up wind of a kiter, a lot of kiters don't realise how much of an arc is required to pull off a full planing gybe whereas the kiter will gybe on a dime, or the kiter is upwind of the poley and boosts and lands going the other way however whilst in the air he has floated downwind and lands in the poleys path,
Most of the time it all works out as all our guys give each other a bit of consideration, But everynow and then a fly by nighter will be hell bent on holding me upwind until I have to gybe then they wonder why I am heading straight for them.

richswing said...

Hey Guys,

Who has right of way (kiter and or Poley) when for example you are on a wave and a kiter/poley has has turned to go back out to sea in a fairly flat water area and has time to judge the situation. I would say the person on the wave:

1. In less controlled position to change course
2. The stoke

Another question is if you are heading into shore from way out backline and a kiter comes up behind you slightly downwind and nearly cuts your lines in half, who has right of way.

The reason for both these questions is I think there is a guy at a local beach that has done both of these issues and I was wondering if I was wrong or he was.

Cheers
Rich

whoever is riding down the line of a breaking wave has right of way.

i'm not sure what you mean by the other question; it sounds like you have picked a wave and are following it in waiting for it to break and the kiter has snaked you?

well thats a great attitude,
most people would agree that a bit of education on how each other operates would go a long way to prevent a collision.

Why all the thumbs down on my post? anyway obviously others know better, common sense tells me if someone is coming toward me irrespective if it's a windsurfer or a kite you don't want a collision, so I either bear off downwind, edge harder up wind, turn or hold your kite high in the sky if it's a sail and the other rules, that we all should know some of you thumbs down characters should pull your heads in! We're all a like community trying to help each other or one would hope.
Best idea put that red thumb you like clicking on where you THINK the sun shines from.

It doesn't matter who is coming at you

When your on a collision course, does it really matter if it is a kiter or a windsurfer?

It's still gunna freaking hurt if you don't know the rules and stuff up and hit eachother

Everyone can enjoy there own sport when they know everyone on the water (regardless of kite or sail) knows what they are doing (both with their skills and rules)

Pass on the rules to the new kiters and windsurfers, make it safe for all

On thing: An out of control windsurfer can be stopped within a few board lengths, whilst I gather that a kiter out of control and getting ragdolled will take up more space, so this needs to be taken into account.

Every craft has different handling, have a bit of an idea of how other craft handle, that way everyone has enough space to manouvre

Sounds like a good call to me Ioz

I'd be happy with that

I never like being downwind of something/someone I don't fully know (craft or individuals skill with craft), as dunno what will happen if they get into trouble

Nothing worse then someone capsizing onto you or equivalent

surfingboyo said...

^^^ its board, not "craft"...^^^

Craft = any water user on anything that isn't swimming

Craft = proper term for anything boat related

Windsurf board and Kiteboard both = Craft

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