Earlier on

barn said...
Rules are sposed to be uniform... Sailor heading out through the break always has right of way.

These are maritime rules, anybody turning has to give way.. If there is an injury and it goes to the courts, then it gets down to the maritime rules...

I googled the international regulations the (COLREGs) as I was interested and found a copy on the Western Australian Legislation website here:

http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/pco/prod/FileStore.nsf/Documents/MRDocument:4113P/$FILE/PreventionOfCollisionsAtSeaRegs1983_01-a0-03.pdf?OpenElement

and a good summary here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Regulations_for_Preventing_Collisions_at_Sea#cite_note-full_text_COLREGS-3

and could NOT find anything that suggested a turning vessel (i.e. on a wave) needs to give way one that is not. So is that really true?

There is a rule for a vessel that is restricted in it's ability to manoeuvre which I guess would cover the person going out in many situations going out through the break, e.g. slogging on a matchstick on the way out, or conversly the need to go DTL or end up on the rocks.

I just got back from a trip to Cape Verde, and the scenario there was one where the guy in the most precarious position varied from the wave rider to the one going out, and it was also obvious who that was. In this scenario there was not much jumping going on in the wave riding zone, as it was pretty difficult to plane, in that zone. I am pretty sure no one new who had 'the right of way' at any particular time, I certainly didn't! But everyone new when your were in a tight spot, or they could see when a guy was having some fun, including the kiters!

To me

Rule 2 - Responsibility
(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner,
master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to
comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which
may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special
circumstances of the case.
(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had
to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special
circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved,
which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid
immediate danger.

Which to me translates into, use your common-sense, respect the local rules, no point being dead right...

P.C_simpson said...

I know the proper rules and if anyone gets in my way or tries to steal my waves i'll just yell at you, just like the Caveman i am..

And there should be a rule that if you are on a sick wave and going straight and sitting on the shoulder you deserve to have it taken off you..

Or are sailing an Ezzy wearing a Gath Helmet, they seam to be the main offenders of not having a clue on the water, i don't know why that is, it just is..

Like this guy?

Fkn ell, do you need a rule book to avoid people when you're walking along the footpath?

It's not rocket science. If i asked 50 people what rules they followed when walking around I'd get 50 different responses. You'd get special give way rules for blind people, for grannies, for kids on a razor with a big grin on their face, you'd get exceptions for when you're feeling tired or energetic, you'd get special rules for if the guy coming along looks like a bikie or a policeman.

In the end just use common sense and courtesy.

Stuff it I'm off to catch some wind

R1DER said...

To Hell with rules and safety and guidelines I'm changing everything.

If I'm on my 3 year old water proof core indestructible blue pig board I have right of way all the time in any situation
BUT
If I'm on my brand new pristine freshly made board, you all have right of way anytime in any situation.

Ah come on no red thumbs for that comment It's not fair, how come Mark Australia always gets all the red thumbs

racerX said...


*snip
and could NOT find anything that suggested a turning vessel (i.e. on a wave) needs to give way one that is not. So is that really true?
*snip
Which to me translates into, use your common-sense, respect the local rules, no point being dead right...

Can you imagine the ocean commotion if a vessel changing course had right of way over somebody going in a straight line?!...

Also a sailing vessel heading directly down wind has to give way to boats sailing across the wind..


I would not feel safe if I went on the water with the 'rulebook' disregarded and everybody using just their 'common sense'.. When Ezzys/Noobs get on a wave, they loose their mind in the sheer ecstasy and adrenalin of pretending to be Mike Waltz.. I am not doubting that the non-EZZY experienced guys from WA sail responsibly and hold back that bottom turn if somebody's in their path.. Its the guys with no clue I'm worried about, those are the guys who need to know the 'rules'..

nebbian
said...


Fkn ell, do you need a rule book to avoid people when you're walking along the footpath?

It's not rocket science. If i asked 50 people what rules they followed when walking around I'd get 50 different responses. You'd get special give way rules for blind people, for grannies, for kids on a razor with a big grin on their face, you'd get exceptions for when you're feeling tired or energetic, you'd get special rules for if the guy coming along looks like a bikie or a policeman.

In the end just use common sense and courtesy.

There's that elusive common sense again! I was told from a young age to walk on the left of the footpath.. So I walk on the left, wonder what the other 49 rules are!!

There are a few other rules more important, but I'm the kinda guy who uses my common sense and It's perfectly safe for me to drive past kindergartens at 110kph while high on Meth, cause I'm a sick driver, and my Commodore has been lowered so it has better performance.. fck tha police

it all clear as mud.

barn said...

Zachery said...


Really easy-
Maritime rules apply until you are in the break.
Then going out has right of way, but not to the point of being discourteous (ie: if you are heading out, and you can let the guy enjoy his waveride and still get out just fine, don't make him give way to you just cos he has to give way according to the rules.)

I think this has been considered the Australian rules as Mark has stated, setting yourself up for the perfect DTL can be ten times harder than running out for a jump unless underpowered!

I agree with this 1st bit, well worded... All I'm saying/adding is the guy on the wave can't expect this privilege, and he can't initiate any DTL antics until the guy heading out has made his intentions obvious.. Otherwise all hell will break loose..

But this whole thing about once they are planing they give way ra ra ra is not on..


By the way I think it would be entirely arrogant of me to think my waveride was more important that John Smiths perfect ramp for his backie attempt that might be the highlight of his session/trip/summer..


Is it normally white guys who can't jump who reckon jumping is 2nd fiddle to waveriding?

Now i can use the quote button .............that was to easy.... computers are harder than that arnt they

Just wanted to make the point barn its not that you would be arrogant and ruin a blokes jump.

As PREVIOUSLY mentioned the SECOND self preservation rule also applys when someones charging out (THEY MUST HOLD THERE LINE AT THE A FRAME or white water) i,e holding there line on the way out.

Barn this is there intention

You would be mistaking if you thought the bloke coming out can EFFECTIVELY slow down and or manouvour PLUS /AS there sole intention is to get out through the break planning or not

The second self preservation rule is YOU ALWAYS WAVERIDE AROUND SOME ONE HEADING OUT or boot scoot down the line before he arrives.
because if you dont and decide to hit the lip right in front of someone coming out you will be the one getting a board nose right up under the rib cage (Theres no protection for you what so ever.


99% of the time your mates chaging out he hits the A FRAME AND JUMPS and then you (WAVE RIDING ) slay it after him.

The other 1% are near misses or crashes and are the wave riders fault for not seeing and giving right of way to the person coming out.

^^^^^yep, makes a bit of scence, spelling and punctuation is half decent(not that I can spell and punct.) and we can understand what he is trying to say.
I guess he isnt stonned or drunk tonight.

^^^^ârrrrh,,,,,his drugs just kicked in and he is back to normal.

lotofwind said...

I remember asking right of way rules on this site 5 years ago and got quoted sailing/maritime rules.
When I said that it dosent really work in the waves, I was told that it dosent matter if there are waves breaking or not, you ALWAYS stick to the sailing rules.

Now that Im saying,stick to the sailng rules,,the same one or two are saying I dont know what Im on about,its different in the waves,even though 5 years ago the sailing rules were not to be broken......How things of changed,,eh..

Thats why I was saying I didnt want marks opinion,
because he was the one back then argueing that maritime rules MUST be followed no matter what,,followed by some comment about kiters always being in the way because they dont know the sailing rules etc..
Or maybe he just likes to troll and disagree with a kiteboarder wheather he agrees or not?????

Interesting.

Seeing as though what I said on this site in 2007 (quoted above) was exactly the same as what I said in this thread, maybe you'd like to find that post from "about 5 years ago" where I said something completely different???

razzmatazz said...

I reckonthis is a pretty anal thread. Just have fun and use one's common sense. I'll get starboard and the like mixed up a lot and am not always aware of it if I am having a handful with just staying upright. I just look ahead and try to avoid hiting anyone

i know what you mean but what happens if you are about to collide and both of you go the wrong way? ouch.

Yep, I've had that happen, a double zig zag path to collision.
We both changed direction about 3 times, towards each other, fortunately by the time we hit had just about stopped, but he still had a seperation.
It was in my 2nd year windsurfing and my fault, I was on starboard and kept giving way.

So from then on I've learned that when your right hand is forward on the boom, you're on starboard and have right of way, and to hold my line, it's up to port to give way, otherwise you could have a head on.

FFS guys the way you are all carrying on you should take up kiting. I thought we were the wise and respectful ones

Bender said...

FFS guys the way you are all carrying on you should take up kiting. I thought we were the wise and respectful ones

well i got to admit the guys going flat out on flat water are fantastic, definately the wise and respectful. most of the guys on the waves are the same, but there appears to be a little more ego and less concern for safe sailing with regards to others by the minority. bummer really.