Windsurfing has really complicated the Rules of Sailing because of the speeds we can achieve and our maneuverability. Bertie has it 100% right.
"...however both are obliged to prevent a collision at all costs."A fin hitting a body at speed is going to be very messy. I adopt the same mentality I use when riding a motor bike, It is pointless being in the right if you are dead!
Most of us don't Race, so although the Rules of Racing are a good guide they are not necessarily the rules of recreational sailing.
In this increasingly litigious world it would be unwise for anyone to go making grand statements in a public forum about what is and isn't legal. I really recommend you all Google for some knowledge on the subject as, at a guess, most of you sail un-insured. On that subject, Get some insurance.
Personally, I find the Right Hand Forward has Right of Way concept keeps me out of trouble 99% of the time. In the other 1% I use Berties advice.
I would like to see some sort of hand-out issued at Windsurfing and Kiting stores pointing out the basics.
Here are a couple of starting points.
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~elfox/rules.html www.sailingusa.info/sailing_safety.htm#Right-of-Way A few years back one of the WA windsurfing stores had a good web page on the subject but I can't find it.
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