Hi all

It’s been mentioned kiters are very unpredictable so to help, here’s the idiots guide to understanding kiting.

1. Kiter in water, feet in straps, kite in air. Any second he will dive his kite 12o'clock to 3 (or 9) to waterstart and take off.

2. Kiter in water looking lost means he’s lost his board. Our boards are very thin and even small chop can obscure it when your head is at water level. Even worse if it's upside down. If you see his board point it out (you're much higher up) or if you're really nice take it back to him. He'll be most grateful and totally amazed a "pole dancer" helped him out.

3. Kiter in water body dragging - He's trying to get back to his board (or still looking for it)

4. Kiter scanning around him – he’s either checkout the scenery or seeing if it’s all clear for him to transition (gybe/tack) or jump.

5. Kiter yanks his kite from 3o'clock to 12, he's started his jump. He should have checked no one is down wind but just in case keep an eye on this trajectory. Sometimes a gust can take him higher/longer than anticipated.

6. Kite spinning uncontrollably - a line has caught on something (eg the kite bar), stay well away. He’s got enough problems without people abusing him.

7. Kiter kiting with only one hand – no he’s not being a tosser and showing off. It can actually be easier this way.

8. Kiter smashes his kite in your path – trust me on this one, he hasn’t done it on purpose to piss you off. Kites are a LOT more fragile than sails so he’s probably more pissed with himself than you are with him anyway. He’s probably a learner so take a note of the colour of his kite and just give him a wide berth next time.

9. Kiter walking up the beach with kite in hand - either the Walk of Shame (hasn't learnt to edge/kite to windward yet) or something failed - either way point and laugh. Just kidding - every kiter goes through this, it's a rite of passage.

10. Kiter getting dragged up the beach – grab either the leading edge of the kite (the fat bladder bit) or grab the person. Either could save his life.

If you want any strange kiter behaviour explained, I'll try my best.

Ex-windsurfer who has gone over to the dark side.....
FF

12. Kiter on port tack coming towards a windsurfer on Starboard tack and the kiter goes slightly to windward with the kite low. This seems to happen fairly often to a few of us and when we tell them nicely not to do that as it is dangerous when we are doing 30+ knots ...they give you a very dumb look. It could all turn ugly very quickly.
Maybe the answer is to educate every kiter somehow.

Windsurfer or kitesurfer, it does not matter. When I am on the water it is my responsibility to use my equipment in a way that is safe and respectful of other water users. It is not someone else's responsibility to get out of my way or work out why I am unpredictable. When I get on the plane my board is a missile that I need to operate with respect to other water users. I don't think that it is funny or witty to think that the unpredictable manoeuvres of some kiters need to be understood. Neither do I think it is funny when a kiter decides to track through an area being used by windsurfers. Usually there is plenty of room on the water for each to have their own spot. This should be especially so for novices and those who don't know their port from starboard. Take a lesson from the jet skiers...when enough was enough they got relegated to the waters beyond everyone else. They are a mighty watercraft but people just don't tolerate dangerous behaviour for long. Why don't we preserve the longevity of kiting and windsurfing by doing the right thing. This means that individual kiters take responsibility by operating in suitable conditions and with plenty of space between them and other users. I would respect that.

Notwal... read the colregs properly...passing on the right is for powerboats .... port and starboard applies to ALL sailing craft whether racing or NOT. Recreational situations are the same and it is an international regulation. Just remember this when an incident occurs...'IGNORANCE is NOT a DEFENCE'.
Good luck.
Please pass my comments on to every Kiter you come across before something happens that could have been avoided by respecting others.

Kite racers know and respect the right of way rules. I was on a collision course with a kiter on the weekend, both of us going to windward me on starboard. I held my course and he passed just below me very close ie less than a metre at high speed. I had full confidence there would be no collision because we both knew the rules and therefore could predict each others behavior.
The guys just blasting around are a different story. I keep my distance from them and make sure we have eye contact if we get close. Bit like riding a motorbike even if you have right of way its still better to be cautious.

The starboard / port tack rule is simple.
If you are on port tack then you should give way to anyone on starboard tack. You can pass upwind or downwind as long as long as you don't cause them to change course.
If you are on starboard tack then you can maintain course and expect to have right of way. However you must avoid collision if for some reason circumstances dictate

gregwed said..
What about when you are on a starboard tack and a kiter heads straight towards you then does a jump out of the way at the last few seconds just when you are about to take evasive action. Happens regularly - is this just a smart a_se kiter showing off that he can jump?? What is the recommended course of action following this apart from an abusive or physical confrontation - Just ignore it??

Then don't go windsurfing with any kind of camera like a GoPro, they look for those, cameras attract kiters like moths to a flame.

All kidding aside, to the OP, being a kiter and former windsurfer, have you made a similar list for the kiters, so they know what to expect from us?
Surely we're not the only ones who you may think need some education.

Freddofrog said..
Hi all

It’s been mentioned kiters are very unpredictable so to help, here’s the idiots guide to understanding kiting.

1. Kiter in water, feet in straps, kite in air. Any second he will dive his kite 12o'clock to 3 (or 9) to waterstart and take off.

2. Kiter in water looking lost means he’s lost his board. Our boards are very thin and even small chop can obscure it when your head is at water level. Even worse if it's upside down. If you see his board point it out (you're much higher up) or if you're really nice take it back to him. He'll be most grateful and totally amazed a "pole dancer" helped him out.

3. Kiter in water body dragging - He's trying to get back to his board (or still looking for it)

4. Kiter scanning around him – he’s either checkout the scenery or seeing if it’s all clear for him to transition (gybe/tack) or jump.

5. Kiter yanks his kite from 3o'clock to 12, he's started his jump. He should have checked no one is down wind but just in case keep an eye on this trajectory. Sometimes a gust can take him higher/longer than anticipated.

6. Kite spinning uncontrollably - a line has caught on something (eg the kite bar), stay well away. He’s got enough problems without people abusing him.

7. Kiter kiting with only one hand – no he’s not being a tosser and showing off. It can actually be easier this way.

8. Kiter smashes his kite in your path – trust me on this one, he hasn’t done it on purpose to piss you off. Kites are a LOT more fragile than sails so he’s probably more pissed with himself than you are with him anyway. He’s probably a learner so take a note of the colour of his kite and just give him a wide berth next time.

9. Kiter walking up the beach with kite in hand - either the Walk of Shame (hasn't learnt to edge/kite to windward yet) or something failed - either way point and laugh. Just kidding - every kiter goes through this, it's a rite of passage.

10. Kiter getting dragged up the beach – grab either the leading edge of the kite (the fat bladder bit) or grab the person. Either could save his life.

If you want any strange kiter behaviour explained, I'll try my best.

Ex-windsurfer who has gone over to the dark side.....
FF

If 4 and 5 actually happened ie: seeing if it’s all clear for him to transition (gybe/tack) or jump and He should have checked no one is down wind. The vast majority problems wouldn't occur in the first place and everyone would be MUCH happier and safer on the water.
To fix the other issue of right of way to make it simple, right hand forward has right of way. KISS theory.

That just sounds like a list of excuses for being a kook and trying to justify not knowing what you're doing.

hoop said..
That just sounds like a list of excuses for being a kook and trying to justify not knowing what you're doing.

Freddofrog said..
FYI guys, kiters want to avoid collisions A LOT more than you. For you it's just a minor hicup. For them tangled lines is a nightmare and potentially life threatening.

For those kiters who seem to cut it close, chances are they are 100% confident their lines will miss you. (Remember, they want to avoid collisions at all costs). So if you abuse them, they will look confused as they know they will clear you with ample room to spare so they won't understand your concern. However, if you are really concerned gybe or bear away. This may not seem "fair" but kiters actually do this all the time. If we're unsure of something/someone ahead self perservation kicks in and we just turn around. It's simply not worth the hassle and risk.

(Edit: Think of it as an opportunity to practice an emergency snap gybe, when was the last time you did one of those?)

That's not always the case though...

qldnacra said..

..... right hand forward has right of way...

Now why didn't anyone tell me this gem years ago. Would have made my course racing days just that little bit easier.

Mastbender said..


All kidding aside, to the OP, being a kiter and former windsurfer, have you made a similar list for the kiters, so they know what to expect from us?
Surely we're not the only ones who you may think need some education.

Fair point though I'm going to need some help on what kiters need to be informed of. Windsurfing in my mind is very predictiable.

One main issue raised is kiters getting too close. I think it's fine but I can see how from a windsurfing perspective it seems way too close. I'm happy to champion a "give them more room" thing.

What else?

5. Kiter yanks his kite from 3o'clock to 12, he's started his jump. He should have checked no one is down wind but just in case keep an eye on this trajectory. Sometimes a gust can take him higher/longer than anticipated.

They should be looking behind themselves as well as downwind. I have lost count of the times a kiterr has jumped only to realise that a windsurfer was sailing in from behind and slightly downwind at double his/her speed. It doesn't take long to cover a few hundred metres at 25-30 knots - in fact it can easily be covered in the time the kiter is dangling in the air.

ikw777 said..


I have lost count of the times a kiterr has jumped only to realise that a windsurfer was sailing in from behind and slightly downwind at double his/her speed. It doesn't take long to cover a few hundred metres at 25-30 knots - in fact it can easily be covered in the time the kiter is dangling in the air.

Thats all well and good but as we all know the vessel "clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel clear ahead" Not only is this rule 12 that you are breaking its also common sense. Im not going to drive my car at 100kph past a motorbike who i see it weaving around and expect him to get out of my way, sure he might be going slower than the speed limit and driving dangerously but that doesn't make me think "it will give me satisfaction in court."

As I'm aware, one major reason Jet skis were moved to separate zone's in many areas was the fact they don't, as you said, "take long to cover a few hundred metres", but at much more than 25-30 knots. Perhaps thats something you should consider, MarkSSC also mentioned his board being a missile

As for me I am both a sailboarder and a kiteboarder, Its easy for me to read the language of both disciplines. I do think its a good idea to write out a list for the kite boarders even if for you it does seem predictable, it may not be for them. But its very important to write it in the same manner Freddo has done. No "don't do this", just "if we have this body language, expect this"

An example, on a recent trip to the sunshine coast I noticed a sailboarder doing some real nice powered gybes, and some kiters had no idea what was happening and kept getting in his way.

As for kiters not getting taught the correct rules, I know for a fact that the IKO guidelines do include right of way, which doe include port starboard, windward boat, etc. whether people are self taught or learn from their mates though means they wouldn't have bothered with it.

flyingcab said...

ikw777 said..


I have lost count of the times a kiterr has jumped only to realise that a windsurfer was sailing in from behind and slightly downwind at double his/her speed. It doesn't take long to cover a few hundred metres at 25-30 knots - in fact it can easily be covered in the time the kiter is dangling in the air.

Thats all well and good but as we all know the vessel "clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel clear ahead" Not only is this rule 12 that you are breaking its also common sense.

The overtaking rule doesn't apply to airborne vessels flying cab. Nor does it apply when the airborne vessel falls onto the other vessel as a result of travelling downwind suddenly whilst airborne.

Subsonic said...

flyingcab said...

ikw777 said..


I have lost count of the times a kiterr has jumped only to realise that a windsurfer was sailing in from behind and slightly downwind at double his/her speed. It doesn't take long to cover a few hundred metres at 25-30 knots - in fact it can easily be covered in the time the kiter is dangling in the air.

Thats all well and good but as we all know the vessel "clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel clear ahead" Not only is this rule 12 that you are breaking its also common sense.

The overtaking rule doesn't apply to airborne vessels flying cab. Nor does it apply when the airborne vessel falls onto the other vessel as a result of travelling downwind suddenly whilst airborne.

Exactly!