Right of Way

[TritonKiteboarding]

Scott's on the money and so is the sign, riders on starboard tack (right hand forward, Heal-side edge) have right of way over riders on port tack, which makes them the stand-on vessel and a port tack rider the Give-way. A stand on vessel must maintain course and speed until the crossing situation is over.

If there's any doubt i usually just cut noticeably downwind and wave with my hand for the other rider to hold his/her course upwind. I know it puts me in a potentially dangerous situation being downwind, but i'd rather make my actions clear before there's doubt as to who should get out of the way. (seeing as many people don't know who has right of way.)

Another right of way scenario is for people launching and landing, if you see that a rider is attempting to leave from the beach, and another rider is coming in off the water, unless there are overpowering/dangerous conditions and the rider on water must come off, he/she should give way to rider attempting to leave beach. Being in the water and riding (so long as you are a proficient rider) is a much more controllable and safe situation than a rider being on land trying to get out.

Other situations include orientation to wind if on same tack and maneuverability. If two riders are on the same tack and one is slightly to windward of another, the leeward (downwind) rider has right of way until he heads so high upwind that he causes the windward rider to alter course than the role's change. Other things like if you see a rider standing in the water with a kite, or people doing lessons (although they should not be in an interfering place to begin with) these people are less maneuverable than a rider coasting along at speed and for that reason the more maneuverable rider should give way.

Personally i believe sailing regulations must be carried over into this sport as they are in windsurfing. We do our best to teach all standardized sailing terms and practices in our lessons. (Starboard/port/windward/leeward...ect) and people that are unfamiliar or have questions about certain aspects we will happily bring up to speed in a quick free chalk talk at the beach. We have whiteboards that we can easily depict the different scenario's on.

Thats my 2 cents kind of jumbled in there, if there's any questions or things that need to be clarified, we'll be at east beach all day enjoying the very gnarly winds.
-matt

The upwind/downwind rider thing gets confusing for me (on same tack) sometimes.
If I am just leeward of a guy and in front of him (he is just barely trailing me) I can't see him.
If I am cutting upwind much stronger than him (I would think 9 times of 10, I would be) I have right of way, right?

I suspect I unknowingly cut people sometimes in that scenario simply because I point high and don't always see them.
It sounds like that's "their problem". Is that right? I wouldn't knowingly pinch someone off, but they should just slow down or something, if I read the rules correctly, right?

[kite-4-life]

Here's a few pics to help you understand from the NEW IKO website.
http://www.ikointl.com/priority-rules.php

[TritonKiteboarding]

scott if your to leeward you have right of way all the way until you point so high upwind that you make the windward rider alter course. if you are pointing higher than him and would like to become the windward rider you must get there in a fashion that doesn't cause him to alter course, thats at least how it works in sailing when a boat is pointing as high into the wind as it can.

[CodyKeats]

Guys - Here's what a very popular kiteboarding instructional video says about right of way. Is this consistent with what you guys are saying?

1. When 2 riders are riding in the same direction, the downwind rider has the right of way (this makes sense because he/she can't see the upwind rider as well as the upwind rider can see the downwind rider).

2. When 2 riders are approaching one another in opposite directions, the rider with his/her right foot forward has the right of way (this presumes, of course, that neither is riding toeside).

These 2 rules are pretty simple and easy to understand, even for those riders without a sailing background. I think they are consistent with what you guys are saying, but if not, we should be concerned about conflicting "rules" being taught by various instructors.

Jim

PS - Today (Saturday), I'm sitting this one out. Had nice wind yesterday on the east coast, maybe some more tomorrow. But gusts to 40 are a bit much for me....be safe and use good judgment!!

[bryanleighty]

i think the one element in this is what to do when a situation arises that the proper right of way is not given..

this happens a lot.. typically its no big deal and .. in fact i give right of way more often than i should (per the rule).. if i see a possible ROW situation coming up I'll just veer off or jump and situation is gone.

if you can avoid a situation its for the best.. in the initial post regarding the situation he was in.. wouldnt it have just been best to tack and avoid the trouble? i know that this is not always possible.. but usually it is.

also make note of those that dont give ROW properly.. if nothing else, just to steer clear.

new riders might have all the best intentions but they are more concerned about staying up and riding than looking ahead 10 seconds to avoid situataions..

[toby wilson]

Maybe we should also put in a little tidbit about the Starboard (or Port, whatever the majority wants) tacking rider being the only one having the option to jump in this situation? Could be messy if BOTH tried to jump at the last minute to avoid a situation...just a thought.