Right of way, for both kiters and windsurfers, please read

[Leo Chan]

I recall Billy posted a thread asking kiters giving newbies some room. And we all have encountered some form of close calls with power boats not knowing the right of way, I think it is instructive that we all know about the right of way since kiters and windsurfers will likely share the same narrow water way in DC and other smaller sailing areas. I can only find illustrations from Rutgers University Sailing club website. They use sailboats as graphic illustration, but the same apply for all sailing crafts.

1. A sailboat running free must keep clear of one close hauled. (Read: give way to the sailor downwind, especially if that sailor is going cross wind.)
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~elfox/rule1.html

2. A sailboat close hauled on the port tack (left side of the board is your front) must keep clear of a sailboat close hauled on the starboard (right side of the board is your front) tack.
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~elfox/rule2.html

3. When both boats are running free on opposite tacks the vessel with the wind on the port side must keep clear.
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~elfox/rule3.html

4. When both boats are running free on the same tack the boat to windward must keep clear.
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/~elfox/rule4.html

Bottom line, the sailor on starboard has the right of way most of the time. And always give way to sailor on the downwind side, especially newbies. In the future, if someone is pissed off at you at the beach because you're going upwind on port and the other person is going cross wind on starboard, you will know why.

AND PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS WHO HAS POWER BOAT OR JET SKI TO GIVE RIGHT OF WAY TO SAILORS!!! Because even if you couldn't save them from killing a sailor, you could save them from financial ruin.

Billy and Kenny, feel free to correct or add something I missed. I know there are more "rules" out there for kiters.

[hedquista]

After kiting up in the gorge in the mayhem they call kiting up there. I was told and figured out that if two riders are both cutting up wind and will intersect the one with the right hand forward has the right of way. This is what is said above that the starboard rider is in the right of way. I find that here in utah that we all give and take. if there is a spot that people are jumping repeatedly then you give way to the person doing the trick. It comes back to you when your setting up for the huge air over the reeds or what ever it may be.

I just try to remember that there is alot of wind everywhere and that i can go get my self schooled away from traffic as well as in traffic so i choose the first.

I also agree that boaters need to be told that sailors have the right of way. ALWAYS. WE are at the mercy of the wind and they have a motor. it just makes sense.

[Shawn Henderson]

I got bitched out by a pontoon boat that was trolling IB yesterday. He said "Don’t you know about the 150 ft rule! dumb a$$ mo fo..." Despite the fact I had the right of way! I would have given space if I could, but it was hit the island or go upwind of him. In hind sight I should have just turned around, but I was trying to get out into the channel. Just because you have the right of way doesn’t mean others understand the rules enough to do their part. Its like those idiot college students I see nose in a book as they cross 4 lanes toward campus in a cross walk that has no traffic signal. Yes its their legal right, but that does not mean other cars will yield correctly. It seems like every year you hear about a ped who gets killed. Just because you have legal protection doent mean you dont lookout for yourself too. I prefer to watch out for my own butt just in case someone else screws up.

[Leo Chan]

He said "Don’t you know about the 150 ft rule! dumb a$$ mo fo..." Despite the fact I had the right of way!

Next time, crash your sail on top of that foker's boat and say "Opps". You have the right of way and you won't have to pay for any damage. That should teach them a lessons.