Kitesurfers

Went out today on the 18 at a well-known kitesurfing spot, Crown Memorial Beach in Alameda, CA, and the wind was blowing so there were lots of kitesurfers out. My question is, what are the rules for sailing with kitesurfers?

Some of the better ones could turn on a dime, but some of the lesser ones seemed to be hanging on with little knowledge of how to control the equipment. I did my best to avoid them all and did so without any trouble, but I'd like to know how the forum members have sailed with them.

I had one get alot closer than I wanted him to, he was coming from behind me and over took me to the windward side on a reach, this put his kite way way to close to my mast.

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Nacra 5.2 "Elsies"
Hobie 14T, "Blazin" I guess I am keeping her!

The traditional rules of the road apply to kiteboarders. Starboard has rights over port, overtaking has to stay clear of someone ahead, etc.

However, the unofficial rule when sailing with kiters has always been - don't sail downwind of the kite. The safest bet is to assume that the kiter could lose control of his kite and be pulled downwind.

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One other rule, don't grab the kite lines if your boat does become tangled with a kit. Let the kite boarder clean up as they will know which lines are ok to pull. The spectra kit lines will cut like a knife if they are pulled and under load.

Be patient with these "new to sailing" people. Remember how Hobie sailors were treated by the traditional sailing groups. Kindly teach the rules, and ask questions about safe/seperate launch and landing areas.

Glad to see some tolerance with them. I tryed kiting a few years back and one after noon a fleet of cats came up to the beach directly down wind from where I had launched. I had no idea there was a race going on outside at belmont, ca. They came in landed and relaunched within what seemed like forever. I was busy flying this thing up the beach to get out of the way incase I had it go down by mistake. I never left the shore that day having raced cats and other sailboats and remember some of the rules. There are a few Kiteboarding orgs like IKC that have schools but they don't talk much about sailing around other boats just each other. Your right to prefer to stay upwind from them as a sudden loop can bring the kite strings into your path. Since they are on 120' lines there is a slim to none chance of killing their lift. I agree with you Hammond always avoid the lines with your body parts they are braided kevlar and very high strength rated over 1000 psi. Never ever wrap a line around your hand like you would one of your sheets guys, even if the kite is in the water because it could re-launch and really cut you bad even with sailors gloves. If you must just pull one string in your hand over hand if you have to but watch the excess lines don't let them wrap around your leg or boat and be prepaired to release it if it starts to fly! Most kiters carry a small knife in their harness back incase they get fouled and need to get away from the kite. There are no safe lines to grab while the kite is in the air but if you find one on the water it can be grabbed fairly safely by the fat edge and flip it over if possable so the tips are up that will prevent it from flying again keeping it downwind from you always and if nessessary deflating the leading edge blatter by a large twist deflation plug similar to a hull drain. If the kiter is in trouble the kite can be rolled up after that deflates in about a minute and leaving the ribs inflated he can use it like a raft and paddle back to shore laying on top of it. The lines are kind of pricey to replace but if you get one in your rig cutting it away is better than draging both the kite and rider away until you can get stopped. They don't know port from starbord tack and will not know if you call starboard what that means. It is a thrilling ride if you ever decide to give it a try. Similar to boats the more wind there is the less sail needed. Unfortulately they don't roller furl yet most guys have 2 or 3 sizes and fly the one that suits the conditions.

I went to a local Kitesurfing shop and asked how to sail with kitesurfers and was told:
1. Do your best to stay upwind, since many new kiters don't know how to sail upwind very well and usually are dragged downwind. Also, as already mentioned, if the kiter loses control the rig goes downwind.

2. If you get tangled with a kite, don't grab lines.

3. Kiters have a quick-release handle on their harness, which can be used to de-power the kite. The quick-release has a leash on it, which it tied to one end of the kite and the harness.

4. If you must grab a kite do so by the inflated middle (not ends) of the kite. Doing this is like giving the Vulcan stun-grab to the kite and will neutralize it.

5. The stronger the wind the higher the angle a kite will fly. Good kiters will be able to easily control the angle of the kite to the water.

6. Starboard tack is when the kiter has his right foot forward. Port tack is when the left foot is forward.

basically, kitesurfers have no rules--except between each other. as others have said, try to stay up wind for safety. do not attempt to lend a hand unless asked, or unless it appears he is unconscious. if the kiteboarder is at sea and the kite is flying, he is ok. a kiteboarder is at most risk while on the beach. if the kiteboarder knows what starboard means, most likely he will not hear you scream it if farther than a few feet away. it takes me well over an hour to park on the beach, step the mast and rig my 16. it takes just under 10 minutes to park on the beach and be cruzin upwind on my kite. just an fyi.

Here is my contribution to the kiteboarder talk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6k-wMTmmc