Posted this in the kiting forum as I am sure it applies to all.

The International collision regulations are in place and apply to kiters,windsurfers and yachties to avoid injuries and collisions. We are all out there to have fun and blaze around, however it should be done in a safe manner. Today I had 3 x kiters come at me on port tack whilst windsurfing at the speed spot at Botany Bay.
What part of "port tack gives way to starboard tack" don't you guy's understand.
All 3 occasions I was forced to take evasive action to avoid them. This isn't the first time this has happened and so far I have had restraint from saying anything and just avoiding them. With the speeds we are all doing when it gets fresh it is just a matter of time before someone gets injured if this sort of thing keeps happening. At 35kn's + taking evasive action might not be an option as it requires a split second reaction. When a kite just pivot gybes without looking first, just in front of you and then crosses your path a couple of seconds later, it is dangerous.
I am writing this to keep all of us enjoying the wind and water. Happy to share the water with anyone as long as everyone abides by the rules. Windsurfers included.
Note: All people on the water have a responsibility to avoid potential collisions and should familiarize themselves with the rules before venturing out there.
It would be a good idea if you are coming back from in the corner on port tack to sail below the 2 old timber posts, thus avoiding any starboard tack boards or kites on the speed run. Coming back on port is asking for potential trouble, as experienced numerous times to date.
If you know the rules then inform the ignorant!
Keep it safe

Maybe should talk to the guys that run the kite school nearby, they would be in a better position to spread the wisdom....

powersloshin said..
Maybe should talk to the guys that run the kite school nearby, they would be in a better position to spread the wisdom....

I doubt it will do much good. Hoons had been taught to drive responsibly and to respect others, but still there are some out there. Those kiters who intermingled with windsurfers did it because they believe they are in full control. Perhaps they think they are very good as well.

First rule of staying safe at sea: Assume everyone else is a d***head.

Fez said..
Posted this in the kiting forum as I am sure it applies to all.

The International collision regulations are in place and apply to kiters,windsurfers and yachties to avoid injuries and collisions. We are all out there to have fun and blaze around, however it should be done in a safe manner. Today I had 3 x kiters come at me on port tack whilst windsurfing at the speed spot at Botany Bay.
What part of "port tack gives way to starboard tack" don't you guy's understand.
All 3 occasions I was forced to take evasive action to avoid them. This isn't the first time this has happened and so far I have had restraint from saying anything and just avoiding them. With the speeds we are all doing when it gets fresh it is just a matter of time before someone gets injured if this sort of thing keeps happening. At 35kn's + taking evasive action might not be an option as it requires a split second reaction. When a kite just pivot gybes without looking first, just in front of you and then crosses your path a couple of seconds later, it is dangerous.
I am writing this to keep all of us enjoying the wind and water. Happy to share the water with anyone as long as everyone abides by the rules. Windsurfers included.
Note: All people on the water have a responsibility to avoid potential collisions and should familiarize themselves with the rules before venturing out there.
It would be a good idea if you are coming back from in the corner on port tack to sail below the 2 old timber posts, thus avoiding any starboard tack boards or kites on the speed run. Coming back on port is asking for potential trouble, as experienced numerous times to date.
If you know the rules then inform the ignorant!
Keep it safe

This post is fully retarted. ^^^

lol.

waveslave said..

Fez said..
snip

This post is fully retarted. ^^^

lol.

And that is ironic as fk

lol back at ya Mr Slave

So..is retarted when someone returns to prostitution after leaving another profession?

waveslave said..

Mark _australia said..

waveslave said..

Fez said..
snip

This post is fully retarted. ^^^

lol.

And that is ironic as fk

lol back at ya Mr Slave

It was a joke, Captain Obvious.

OH
MY
GOD

lol.

It's no joking matter, the rule is imposed to prevent collisions, injuries and damage to equipment.

Here's a tip for some self reflection hopefully leading to changing your inner self talk in a positive way, creating positve changes to your personality... Probably not a joke if no one finds it funny

as this is a windsurf forum ...
perhaps we should just ensure we follow the "rules" ??
and ride defensively
not all windsurfers follow the "rules" either !!

Joe windsurf... it was mentioned in my post that all water users should comply including windsurfers. Please read before making a comment.

Waveslave.... definition of "retard" is not being able to spell retard. Sums it all up really!

albers said..

waveslave said..

This post is fully retarted. ^^^

lol.

From Urban Dictionary, we have:

TOP DEFINITION

retarted

One who has been given additional tarts.
Tartmobile vendor: Here is your extra tart sir. Consider yourself retarted.
Tartmobile customer: Yes thank you I am certainly retarted and happy!

by underdogFromLux August 18, 2006

Well, that's one definition of retarted. ^^^

I was thinking it could mean when a poler puts a whole lot of new sponsors stickers on his sail.

As in; "Tart something up".

What do you reckon ?

lol.

Think we have uncovered a big problem with lack of knowledge of basic rules on the water in the kitesurfing fraternity.

Read some of the replies to this post in kite forum NSWKBA.

thought this post was directed at all water craft ??

I've just read them, they are comprehensive, consistent with sailing rules and easy to understand. They should form part of any instruction to kitesurf

The truth is easy to see. Watercraft have been following the same basic rules for ages, then the new guy/girl (kite boarding) turns up, and seems to have created rules that are all about themselves with no regards to the rules that had already been in place between other watercraft for ages

The problem with rules, especially recreational watercraft, is nobody enforces them,

Has there ever been a collision between windsurfers or kite boarders where people have been charged with not giving way???????

At the end of the day both parties have to avoid collision as much as their skill set and experience will allow

Fez you are a great sailor at Botany. I would suggest there would be very few situations on the water that you couldn't foresee coming with your level of experience and very few situations that you wouldn't have been unable to avoid with your great sailing prowess, so if you were to have a collision, it would be fair to say, 95% of the time, you had the ability and experience to avoid it, which is the only fundamental rule


Yes, I agree there is situations that could happen so quickly, blind spots, that wouldn't have been easy to avoid

One could easily say it aint real safe to a have guys perform high slalom around a lot of less experienced people that go to the water with very little understanding......

In my opinion, Botany, is not just for windsurfers, and the experienced sailors should not expect the same commitment to the water/rules from others that play at Bot

You got the skill, awareness to create clean lines and a bit of circuit around the others who are just cruising, including the worlds most obtrusive thing, the kite boarder

For the record, the only couple of collisions I've seen after ten yrs of sailing in Syd, is Windsurfers, GPS guys, bearing off and crashing into guys who run a more cross wind approach