ur in the wrong mate. ur further upwind of him and you cant charge at him like that, u got to give way to downwind.
u had no rights IMO

If you are following surfing etiquette then the italian definatly dropped in on you. He should have looked back the way the wave was breaking. seen you on the wave and pulled out. I really don't see what the debate is here, its clear cut. I guess in kiting there are too many people from non surfing backgrounds trying to get in the line up with out knowing the rules. surfing rules have been working well for decades, why should they be any different when kitesurfing

kitegirl21 said...

ur in the wrong mate. ur further upwind of him and you cant charge at him like that, u got to give way to downwind.
u had no rights IMO

i think that rule's irrelevant on waves, person on wave has ROW, old mate in the video got on first i reckn, was going down the line (which automatically should give you more rights than upwind wrigglers), he looked closest to anything that is remotely looking like a breaking point int he wave as well so he was deeper in.

old mate italy just cruised on upwind squiggling off the shoulder going in the complete **** direction and was being a tool.

just wondering how can you guys say that he backdoored italy's wave when the wave wasn't breaking so there really wasn't anything to back door before they met up?

Charl dv said...

kitegirl21 said...

ur in the wrong mate. ur further upwind of him and you cant charge at him like that, u got to give way to downwind.
u had no rights IMO

i think that rule's irrelevant on waves, person on wave has ROW, old mate in the video got on first i reckn, was going down the line (which automatically should give you more rights than upwind wrigglers), he looked closest to anything that is remotely looking like a breaking point int he wave as well so he was deeper in.

old mate italy just cruised on upwind squiggling off the shoulder going in the complete **** direction and was being a tool.

just wondering how can you guys say that he backdoored italy's wave when the wave wasn't breaking so there really wasn't anything to back door before they met up?

i watched it again and see wat u mean... it is a bit of a hard one... if it ws me, id just go find another wave...

first option sounds way awesomer though.

^ my entire post wasn't directed at you it was mostly general except for the upwind should give way rule (which in kiting makes no sense in any way).

it's easy to just go out n get another wave but sometimes your in crowded places and if you give up that wave you're just going to the back of a VERY long Que without having the pleasure of a wave so it becomes a lose lose.

like it goes in surfing though you got to respect the locals if your a blow in n show a bit of courtesy

yeah i get it from a sailing perspective completely but just in kiting it makes more sense for down wind kiter to get out as they have more room for movement.

Just apply the rules of the road, give way to anything bigger than you... No point being in the right when your dead.

Lazarus said...

I agree, the whole thing is trivial, there are plenty more waves, I over-reacted in the situation, i should not kite in a '2 tone steamer' or with footstraps (no one has had a go at me for the hat or for being hooked in ... so thanks for that), but the issue remains as to who has right of way and with more people on the water (and the schools keep on teaching and the tourists keep on coming) it is becoming more of an issue.

I am amazed that any think that sailing rules apply. They don't. Surfing rules do. Apart from the fact that I am local at that spot and that I am a fat, old f**k, so you better keep out of my way, it was mine for 2 reasons:

1. I was on it first
2. I was closer to the breaking section (if you both get on the wave at the same time)

Had some good sessions since ... moving on

Hey nice to see you can take the piss out of yourself.

do you get a lot of great whites there? You were a fair way off shore. if I lost a board or broke a line there I think I would need a brown wetsuit also..except it might make you look more like a seal..

Some kiters are kiters who kited on the flats first. They make a move into waves for the first time and didnt come from a surfing background...

Some of these guys tend to think of the rules associated with sailing and kiting on the flats (the whole upwind/downwind, port/starboard crap), and say these are the rules for the surf = FAIL

In the waves - its a dynamic, moving arena in which these rules do not work as designed.

The majority of guys in the waves are originally surfers who took to surfing with a kite....and thats what it is out there - surfing with a kite.

Therefore when it comes to the wave riding part, the general surfing ettiquette rules apply first and foremost...the person on the wave first has right of way...or if this isnt clear, the guy on the inside or closest to the breaking part of the wave has right of way.

go back to the valley

Hi Guys

The following is an extract from http://kitesurfingschool.org/rules.htm that could be useful and gives a pretty good summary of the main rules.



"Traditional Sailing Rules
There are three main rules to be observed when two sailing water-crafts approaching each other on the water:

Opposite tack rule: A boat on port tack (left leg going forward for kitesurfer) shall keep clear of a boat on starboard tack (right leg going forward for kitesurfer).
Same tack rule: A boat to windward (upwind) shall keep clear of a boat to leeward (downwind).
Overtaking rule: An overtaking boat shall keep clear of the boat being overtaken. (when you pass someone, you have to keep clear).

Wave Sailing Rules
These are the main rules when wave sailors approaching each other in the wave:

Opposite tack rule: A wave sailor coming in (surfing the wave in) shall keep clear of a wave sailor heading out (jumping the wave).
Same tack rule (on the wave): All wave sailors shall keep clear of a wave sailor in front of or nearest to the peak of the wave (the breaking part of the wave).
All kitesurfers shall keep clear of all surfers (surfers are less manoeuvrable than kitesurfers)."

You guys are amazing.
You go out there to have fun and get some exercise doing something you like.
But instead you end up almost coming to blows over who has rights to a ripple in the water.

It's not important.
Did it ruin your day?
The fact that you post it here indicates you're proably still fuming over it.

If there's someone in your way, bear away and leave them to it.
Why stir yourself up and the other person up and ruin both your days just for the sake of dragging your sorry ass over one particular ripple in the water.
It's not as if you have freehold title to it.
The fact that he argued about it indicates that he thought he had just as much right to it as you did.
Was he right? Were you right? Who cares? It's just a ripple in the water.


I think you should re-assess what's important in life. And this isn't.

pweedas said...
You guys are amazing.

lol, thats a bit of an exaggeration

pweedas said...
If there's someone in your way, bear away and leave them to it.

I love a perfect world.

pweedas said...
It's not as if you have freehold title to it.

lawyers suck ass

pweedas said...
The fact that he argued about it indicates that he thought he had just as much right to it as you did.

is definitely an Italian.

pweedas said...


You guys are amazing.
You go out there to have fun and get some exercise doing something you like.
But instead you end up almost coming to blows over who has rights to a ripple in the water.

It's not important.
Did it ruin your day?
The fact that you post it here indicates you're proably still fuming over it.

If there's someone in your way, bear away and leave them to it.
Why stir yourself up and the other person up and ruin both your days just for the sake of dragging your sorry ass over one particular ripple in the water.
It's not as if you have freehold title to it.
The fact that he argued about it indicates that he thought he had just as much right to it as you did.
Was he right? Were you right? Who cares? It's just a ripple in the water.


I think you should re-assess what's important in life. And this isn't.

You should spend more time on the forum and less time kiting, coming in after the topic is dead! Who said it was important? Who said fun was not had? Who said we almost came to blows? Maybe the fact that he argued about it indicated that he was an arrogant idiot with no respect for good manners and etiquette on the water. It did not ruin my day - it was trivial and there were plenty more 'ripples' to enjoy. As mentioned, i posted because I thought it was funny and possibly eductional. You are the one taking things way too seriously.

Charl dv said...

newracer said...

ar).

Wave Sailing Rules
These are the main rules when wave sailors approaching each other in the wave:

Opposite tack rule: A wave sailor coming in (surfing the wave in) shall keep clear of a wave sailor heading out (jumping the wave).

is it just me or should that rule be reversed?

if i'm wrong please tell me

sort of reversed.. for me, wave rider has priority...unless its obvious sailor going out is going to get pounded in the break because of your ride... give them way, let him get through the break.
but, the 'jumping the wave'...not so sure about that though..