Hi all
Was anyone taught this as part of their lessons, eg starboard has right of way? I certainly wasn't (I know it anyway but that is beside the point).
While I think we have our own unwritten rules (upwind kiter flies high), there are other water users apart from kiters.
Select to expand quoteFreddofrog said..
Hi all
Was anyone taught this as part of their lessons, eg starboard has right of way? I certainly wasn't (I know it anyway but that is beside the point).
While I think we have our own unwritten rules (upwind kiter flies high), there are other water users apart from kiters.
Did you ever get taught how to walk past other pedestrians on the street?
Goes without saying.
Yes I was taught, but I also was the nerdy student that bought the Kiteboarders Handbook while I was doing lessons, just to be sure
Every water user should be taught, or know the rules as they are universal.
When you go for a skippers ticket you are expected to know.
Even 6 year olds that start out in the local tackers sailing programmes ( around 600 per year in WA) are taught this rule.
for any racing event all entrants are expect to know the universal rules of sailing, under which racing and even freestyle is managed.
Kite Board Australia is the class association for kites under Yachting Australia, who in turn report up to ISAF.
even if there are unwritten rules, all kiters are held responsible to a common law regarding sailing.
If this is not being taught in schools, its a poor reflection on our class and could put kiters at risk when kiting in shared water spaces.
Someone posted this great video a couple weeks ago
Select to expand quoteFreddofrog said..
Hi all
Was anyone taught this as part of their lessons, eg starboard has right of way? I certainly wasn't (I know it anyway but that is beside the point).
While I think we have our own unwritten rules (upwind kiter flies high), there are other water users apart from kiters.
Short answer NO, but I was taught at my lesson ,if there was no one around to land your kite.
Step 1
Lower your kite and slowly walk forwards.
Step 2
Straight into the kiddy play equipment, so it can catch your kite.
Step 3
Unhook everything and run to your kite.
True story.
And yes I did give him a few strange looks.
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said...Freddofrog said..
Hi all
Was anyone taught this as part of their lessons, eg starboard has right of way? I certainly wasn't (I know it anyway but that is beside the point).
While I think we have our own unwritten rules (upwind kiter flies high), there are other water users apart from kiters.
Did you ever get taught how to walk past other pedestrians on the street?
Goes without saying.
Is this guy for real!!
Select to expand quotecbulota said..
I now send it to all my students and other schools should do the same,
Great idea, and should be something every school has on their site and sends out to their students.
So should a practical self rescue! Met a guy who ditched his kite as he'd only been taught the theory and couldn't execute it!
Select to expand quoteNickT said..
So should a practical self rescue! Met a guy who ditched his kite as he'd only been taught the theory and couldn't execute it!
Off topic (and covered to death in heaps of other threads)
Select to expand quotekitingtopher said..
most kitesurfers sail don't they ??
f*ck no, after kiting why would u want to sit on a boat? defiantly looks boring...
Select to expand quoteloftsofwind said..kitingtopher said..
most kitesurfers sail don't they ??
f*ck no, after kiting why would u want to sit on a boat? defiantly looks boring...
You can drink beer on a boat...
Select to expand quoteFreddofrog said...loftsofwind said..kitingtopher said..
most kitesurfers sail don't they ??
f*ck no, after kiting why would u want to sit on a boat? defiantly looks boring...
You can drink beer on a boat...
Fill a camelbak with beer and you can when Kitesurfing
Score so far is:
Yes I was taught: 1
No I wasn't: 1
(and 1 instructor teaches it)
I'm guessing everyone else including instructors are too embaressed to admit no?
Select to expand quoteJimbobfredjack said...Freddofrog said...loftsofwind said..kitingtopher said..
most kitesurfers sail don't they ??
f*ck no, after kiting why would u want to sit on a boat? defiantly looks boring...
You can drink beer on a boat...
Fill a camelbak with beer and you can when Kitesurfing
I'd like to see how that goes after being shaken around - froth spraying out of the nozzle
I too was taught rules, already knew them from sailing but learnt the kite specific ones. I also teach the rules myself.
Dunno what happened with the quote there :s
Christian, you're by far the most useful contributor to these forums (for newbies like me anyway). Thanks for posting that video.
I had been employing the "I'm a beginner so I stay the f@#$ out of everybody's way" road rules, but that video was very helpful.
Runner up for useful tips is Jimbobfredjack for the camelback full of piss.
Select to expand quotecbulota said..
Someone posted this great video a couple weeks ago ...
Can someone please explain why the rider entering the water at 1:34 seems to be giving way to the kiter on the water even though the caption says the opposite, ie rider entering the water has priority???
Select to expand quoteFreddofrog said..
Score so far is:
Yes I was taught: 1
No I wasn't: 1
(and 1 instructor teaches it)
I'm guessing everyone else including instructors are too embaressed to admit no?
My instructors never even mentioned self rescue or anything to do with rules. I wasn't even up and riding after lessons. However he did reinforce the need to pull the safety the moment something starts to go wrong and he taught me some Italian swear words 
Select to expand quoteFreddofrog said..cbulota said..
Someone posted this great video a couple weeks ago ...
Can someone please explain why the rider entering the water at 1:34 seems to be giving way to the kiter on the water even though the caption says the opposite, ie rider entering the water has priority???
I've heard of this rule but I don't get it.
Can someone please explain why the person entering the water has right of way?
Select to expand quoteFreddofrog said..cbulota said..
Someone posted this great video a couple weeks ago ...
Can someone please explain why the rider entering the water at 1:34 seems to be giving way to the kiter on the water even though the caption says the opposite, ie rider entering the water has priority???
Yes there is a slight confusion here as the kiter entering the water is still on the beach....but the person in the water still ''gives way'' by going back out instead of coming in to the shore. As it says right after...if the kiter wasn't launched yet, then any kiter coming back to the shore has right of way.
Say the rider entering the water was a little further in the water and just about to water start (board in feet, kite at 12') then the person coming towards the beach should change direction early and give way to the person about to water start.
That's the main thing to remember, if you see someone about to water start next to the shore you have to give them the right of way and move away/change direction to do so....which is a rule many kiters don't understand/respect.
The main reason for this rule is that the person about to water start has no where else to go and is blocking anyone from coming back to shore close-by anyhow and if the person coming back to the shore doesn't give way it could easily result in a kite tangle or collision.
Select to expand quote
The main reason for this rule is that the person about to water start has no where else to go and is blocking anyone from coming back to shore close-by anyhow and if the person coming back to the shore doesn't give way it could easily result in a kite tangle or collision.
Unless the rider heading into shore is on a wave in which case the rider about to launch should have fly their kite the the shore side of the window to allow the wave riding kiter to milk their wave...
This would also include riders doing the "straight" downwinder in the shore break who should either head out to sea or wait for the wave riding kiter to fiinsh their wave and head back out.
Everyone should give way to the wave riding kiter closest to the peak or the one who chased the swell from furthest out back.
Select to expand quotecbulota said..Freddofrog said..cbulota said..
Someone posted this great video a couple weeks ago ...
Can someone please explain why the rider entering the water at 1:34 seems to be giving way to the kiter on the water even though the caption says the opposite, ie rider entering the water has priority???
Yes there is a slight confusion here as the kiter entering the water is still on the beach....but the person in the water still ''gives way'' by going back out instead of coming in to the shore. As it says right after...if the kiter wasn't launched yet, then any kiter coming back to the shore has right of way.
Say the rider entering the water was a little further in the water and just about to water start (board in feet, kite at 12') then the person coming towards the beach should change direction early and give way to the person about to water start.
That's the main thing to remember, if you see someone about to water start next to the shore you have to give them the right of way and move away/change direction to do so....which is a rule many kiters don't understand/respect.
The main reason for this rule is that the person about to water start has no where else to go and is blocking anyone from coming back to shore close-by anyhow and if the person coming back to the shore doesn't give way it could easily result in a kite tangle or collision.
Not sure if I understand the logic. Technically a kiter on land wouldn't be classified as a sailing vessel because they are still on land so have no rights to begin with. I'm not sure what happens when they enter the water as another vessel (eg kiter or windsurfer) is approaching but boats launching must not imped others or something to that effect. Can anyone clarify?
And as I understand it, the reason why someone waterstarting has right of way (regardless of location) is because any stationary vessel or those with restricted ability to manouveur always has right of way, obviously because they can't move out of the way anyway. It's a basic fundemental and why power gives way to sail and small boats give way to very large ones (like container ships).
Even I can figure out that one. Surely it comes from the days of board attached to feet, sitting on arse and bum dragging or getting bounced a bit as you enter the water with a bit of power in the kite - you have to get going at that point as you are almost at point of no return. But the guy on the water can turn, or get out of your path in a multitude of ways.
Less relevant now of course but the rule has stuck, and it has to stick else everyone gets confused.
The give way to the guy leaving the sure I thought only applies in the surf as it's more critical for them t to time their run out.
Nobody has right of way ever. The only right you have is to see, anticipate and avoid.
The reason you should give room to someone leaving the beach is that they are stationary, at risk and in the way. As a moving kiter you have speed and power and room to move so you get out of the way and let them get going.
Similarly, if you are safely on the beach and out of the way then you keep clear of the water's edge until there's a break in the traffic.
The video illustrates one of my pet hates at 1:50. Sneaking up behind people. The launching rider has checked, the area could be clear so she proceeds to launch. Meanwhile some clown decides to come in to land directly behind her.
The same goes for riding directly behind somebody and blocking their turn. What do you think they're going to do? Right all the way out to sea? Or ride straight up onto the beach?
Select to expand quoteNickT said..
The give way to the guy leaving the sure I thought only applies in the surf as it's more critical for them t to time their run out.
...Unless the rider coming in is on a wave... Someone riding a wave always has the right of way. You need to stay out of their way... the same way that you would paddle into the foam ball if you were paddling out into a breaking wave that someone was riding.
Select to expand quotetheWaterBoy said..NickT said..
The give way to the guy leaving the sure I thought only applies in the surf as it's more critical for them t to time their run out.
...Unless the rider coming in is on a wave... Someone riding a wave always has the right of way. You need to stay out of their way... the same way that you would paddle into the foam ball if you were paddling out into a breaking wave that someone was riding.
And don't be aware of where your kite is - when you are waiting for the wave riding rider to finish his ride, fly your kite over the beach FFS.
Judging by the mixed and confused input of most people here it is clear that very few people here have a good understanding of the rules. i have a very good understanding of the basic sailing rules (as a sailor and also working in the marine industry) I have also read over the kitesurfing specific rules many times however i do not strictly follow them on a day to day basis as no other kiter that I encounter out on the water seems to know and observe these rules. If when you drove on the roads no one stopped at a red light or gave way at a roundabout would you?
For these rules to be of any use to anyone they need to be promoted and reinforced in the kitesurfing community. As it stands most of the popular kitesurfing beaches (around perth metro at least) are a bit of a mess and its no good giving way on your port tack if the other riders have no idea why or what your doing.
I suggest signage at beaches and more online promotion of the rules.
also who has right of way the downwind kiter or the in and out kiter, sure the in and out kiter might be on the wave earlier but technically the downwind kiter is further upwind? I have experienced both sides following a wave in from far out only to have a downwind rider ride up on it from the shore break and riding a wave downwind only to be boxed in with nowhere to go by a in and out kiter? we need to make up a rule for this one
