we have this once in a year int'l. funboard cup where windsurfing and a recent 4yr. addition of kitesurfing was mixed in and on this particular one i did see a what seemed to be a near fatal mishap. on the last reach to the finish line 2 sailors where neck and neck going upwind to avoid what seemed 2 pyro kiters trying to waterstart upwind too but too late the sailors had no chance but to go downwind and unintentionally sideswipe the closest kiter with a nick to the brow also to get hit in the forehead with the lines while the other sailor catapulted on the downed lines. the event director had to get 3guys from the coastguard the next day to police the last buoy lane of any stray kiters. i kinda am impartial to this since i do both. but on a particular p.m. while waiting for my heat me and a fellow sailor where counting all kites aloft at more or less 83+/- kiters and 45+/- slicing the water not to mention those uncounted out on the reef out of sight from shore and poor
pyro sailors 2 of them to be exact didn't know what to do either waterstart left or right with all kites and strings buzzing around in a beach about 1km. long only. on the speed course where both sports aim for the radar gun on a erected platform did i see a kiter for some reason got one of his lines entangled on the platform and couldn't eject himself till the kite twirled endlessly till destroyed. yeah i smile and give courtesy to even those at port either windsurfer or kiter but statistically it wouldn't be too long till both sports engage in a bloody embrace. both camps have been warned prior to the start that to respect each other's boundaries but at times when the winds shift everyone has to stray to reach the upwind mark on the milling area. i guess it just has to be that way for now till someone someday does get red flagged for now avoid and enjoy

am not totally sure regarding length of total saillable area could be closer to 2kms. but most kite and sail in the front facing the beach where it is a lot shorter and sure is chaos and not as much fun anymore for both but not to be deterred decrep if i don't think about what's gonna happen then i think none will...knock on water i hope--a big

in all fairness to kiting as i do most windsurfing than it, i'd be more cautious approaching any sailor or kitesurfer if i was indeed kiting since i would be not so much in control with longer lines and an unpredictable windshift than in windsurfing...

You'd be more than welcome at Wello Haircut. You just have to rig below the high tide line.

nebbian said...

There were a couple of kiters who were getting in the way on the Ledge to Lancelin race as well... I have no idea why they do this, you won't see any windsurfers anywhere near a kiting competition, would you?

Are you on drugs Kitejam ring a bell, photo's in the gallery to prove it.

yup haircut there were several times i had to slide the board intentionally to lower the mast as 10ft. distance could be very well just be 2ft. in frenzied sailing and kiting..then again as we were sitting on the sidelines after a breather one russian guy says as' loong as dee get money to d'island ' then it should be good for both sports..and in a way we all thought we just had to agree..it's the fastest growing sport right now and i think the island's watersport assoc. answer was to give the beginning kiters and sailors red shirts and mandatory use, i think it's a good first step and i hope it all 's well with everyone...but i had my share of oops gotta gybe but before doing that look up first then 360degs. before doin' it...