Talking to another kiter who comes from a windsurfing background the other day and we realised we have completely different versions.
To me if your coming in on a wave those heading out should keep clear.
He mentioned that windsurfers give way to the person heading out and kiting would be the same.
So I pulled the trump card and told him I am the local.
But seriously I often have to pull off a wave or scape through under someones kite who is heading out and I always thought it was just a lack of judgement but maybe I am the only one following my rules. Then again I have never had the problem with windsurfers heading out.
I can imagine it also depends on local conditions like in flat water where one place works when starboard has right of way and others work better if port has right of way.
So what about windsurfers does the person on the wave ever make room for someone heading out
I knew I should of put money on it.
Here we go again..
Does a strapless kiter have RoW over a strapped?
It comes down to this - if the break is off a defined spot (like a point or reef etc) then the usual 1st on a wave applies.
If it is in the sort of never ending mush of onshore slop like Perf metro - it's pretty bloody hard to call where the beak (which kn one?) actually is.
Also, if you have ridden a wave into shore there is not a lot of room to move if another rider comes past on a wave too - due to the Perf mush breaking very close to shore.
So (IMO) you default to the 1st in the area has RoW. Hard to call and riding a twinny I know my lines and approch to the mush is diff to a surfboard rider for a number of reasons, so it gets trickier again.
SURFBOARDS do not have any kind of priority over twinns (and vice versa) tho -as much as that will be shock to a lot of SB riders. They are both watercraft and if you think SBs pull priority over twinnies your just a complete conceded wave snob.
If a rider of any sort is upwind of me - actually in the breaking mush I will vacate and fang out the back until they pass. And yes - if it is poss to head for the white water, rather than mush face - do it. Can be tricky if a rider pulls in just downwind, forcing you to put your kite high tho.
What bakes my biccies is when I am in the mush and some lame twit cruises in downwind from me pulling into the mush that I am already (IMO) in a priority posi for. 
As I say it's pretty bloody hard to define where the break(s) are in Metro slop, so most times it's either perception of the break(s) or plain "all for me" that drives potential conflict from drop-in artistes. Often it's both and after opting out a number of times in a row, to downwind drop-ins, it's hard not to be tempted to cry "Jamm it upya freckle!! I'm comin thru this time sh!thead!"
Give n take is the best option. Metro hardly has world class waves so give way on a few, signal priority on a few, and make the best of the mush.
locally we always give it to the guy on the wave - regardless of craft - when someone is on the wave the wave is their focus - not what is going on around it regards people getting into the lineup - obviously you do need to have some awareness of what is coming your way - but we all make every attempt possible to let the person on the wave go for it... I like how its done at margs... just a big rotation from out the back to inside and back again... the guys there have it sorted.
Lance be speaking the sense.. yo.
Er.. I've been watching too many eps of Breaking Bad.. yo.
)
cool I thought I was the only one going by my rules. Windsurfers not wanting to hit a peeling lip sound like a good reason for them to not be in the wrong spot when your on a wave. I actually got out yesterday and it didn't happen once.
And Get funky I was thinking here we go again when I read your post
I've been riding surfboards since 1968.
Only rule I've ever known is that the guy riding the wave has right of way.
What changed when you put a mast or a kite on the board?
The only rule I know of is, if I am coming out and getting buck off a kicker get the **** outa my way.
p.s. Actually there is another one I know of to, if I am comming in on a wave on a surfboard get the **** outa my way.
Bring it on rowdy I have a shed of old kites to ditch right at you. And my shed is bigger than yours
As a surfer, ex windsurfer and kitesurfer I think anyone on a decent wave has right of way, this is just out of consideration and Ill get right out of the way. This is because regardless of your sport, a good wave is hard to get on.
Windsurfers, again show consideration. They are underpowered and stall frequently whilst getting out because of the waves and currents and giving them a nice clean run to get over a wave is again just being considerate. And yes, most windsurfers are scared S***less when they are directly downwind passing a kitesurfer....keep your kite high...
. But I still doubt you have more old kites, however, if you do once all my kites are used up I'm gonna be commin straight at ya with razor tipped windsurfers made before I even existed
.
On the way out through the surf I am always completely out of control and almost always 4-10m in the air. I usually close my eyes and hope noone gets hurt. Sorry if I have breached any right of way rules.
I only give way to newbies! They are the only ones that will
seriously f up your day! Everyone else seems to work it out
ok without having stupid rules to stick to!
Select to expand quote
Er.. I've been watching too many eps of Breaking Bad.. yo.
Ahahahah
I just did 3 seasons in 2 days... I love that shi t Yo
interesting comments .there seems to be a consensus here on this forum that if you are on a wave you have right of way and give way to noobies no matter what (which makes good sense) .It seems around here however the old poleys rule that if you are schlogging out in sub poling winds (or plenty of wind) you can head out straight through the riding zone and straight up the face becasue if you don't you won't get out ,and abuse any kiters on the wave riding down the line that even come close .I can understand and respect that to a degree (not the abuse tho) but when riders, (kiters and poleys ) sit on the shore and seem to line you up on the wave and go it is quite frustrating .
I don't understand the guy on the wave having right of way. They've usually got the most manouverability and can avoid anybody slogging out.
Whenever I encounter somebody on the way out I just do a turn under or over them. It's fun and makes me feel like a good rider.
There's no such thing as right of way. There's only the responsibility to avoid accidents and to avoid screwing up somebody else's day.
. But I still doubt you have more old kites, however, if you do once all my kites are used up I'm gonna be commin straight at ya with razor tipped windsurfers made before I even existed.
There is only a handfull of us that kite at our local.
If someone is on a wave shooting down the line,and one of us is heading out,the person heading out will do a few gybes in the shallows till the waverider has past.
You usually only have to gybe around for 5 seconds til they pass.That way you dont wreck someones wave.
Nothing worse than picking off a nice set wave and someone,who could have waited 2 seconds, shoots straight out in front of you.
A bit of common sence and respect goes along way.
Alright guys, WAVE SAILING RULES 101
Quoted from: www.windsurfwa.com/WA/rules.html
Sailing safely in waves requires adherence to a certain set of immutable rules. The wave riding rules are aimed at making wave riding safer and more enjoyable for all. They are largely taken from surfing rules, with some additions, applicable only to sailboards.
* Don't sail in conditions way out of your experience. Wave sailing requires a good water start (fast and efficient), preferably a reliable gybe (or tack), and probably the ability to jump. Don't sail conditions that are way out of your capabilities, you will just break gear and ruin the waves for everybody else (especially in crowded breaks).
* The sailor who is heading out has right of way of the sailor that is coming in on the wave. The sailor riding the wave has speed and maneuverability, and must give way to those sailing out.
* The sailor riding the wave closest to the breaking part of the wave has right of way over all other wave riders. Usually this is the sailor most upwind. You can ride a wave with a sailor closer to the breaking part of the wave than yourself, but don't crowd the sailor, and watch closely and be prepared to get out of the way.
* Don't drop in. This is a very bad practice, completely abhorred in surfing and windsurfing circles, and is very dangerous. Dropping in is the act of climbing on a wave that someone else is already riding. Dropping in is often achieved by sailing over the back of a wave that someone else is already riding. Doing this can lead to landing on top of the person riding the wave, and is thus dangerous. The first person on a wave, owns the wave.
* Don't ride shore-wards on the back of a wave. This practice is dangerous. In such a position you cannot see the sailors that are in the water until the last moment, and it is easy to hit them as the appear through the back of the wave.
These rules are universally accepted around the world. If you abide by them, you will have little trouble with other sailors in the waves. If you don't, you will have some very angry sailors confronting you on the beach.
