Question regarding Kite sailing

snowdawg · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010

Hi everyone first time posting, but I having been reading in here for about 2 years now. I have had my 27 aloha for 6months now and love absolutely everything about it. On my last trip out we had a beautiful day sailing and we were just motoring back to the mouth of the river that leads to our harbor. This is also the area near where our kite boarders hang out. As we made a straight line run for the entrance, 3 of the boarders on my port made a run across straight at us. At about 50 yards out 2 of them in the lead turned and cut across my bow but it was clear the 3rd was not going to make it. I told my brother at the helm to idle down and turn off to starboard and as we did the boarder ditched rather than ending up in my rigging. We asked if he was okay and made sure he could get up and going again. We exchanged good days then we continued on. We came close but we avoided a collision.

So my question. What is the status of kite boarders? Do I treat them as a regular sailing vessel? Or are they in between the rules. If I had collided with this one boarder how might the CG look at this? We were motoring, Are they considered sailing? Not trying to start anything here Just looking for a little input on this.

Thanks for any help on this
Dennis

KeelHaulin · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010

They are considered a sailing craft. Generally a kite-boarder will steer clear of other sailboats regardless of tack or if they are leeward; but in the situation you were in the powerboat is always give-way to a sailing craft. You did the right thing by holding course and being ready to stay clear if there was chance of collision; but I would slow down and/or turn sooner if there is any chance of getting that kite wrapped up in my shrouds.

I don't know how the CG would look at it; but IMHO if your bow ran into the boarder or his kite; then you would be at-fault for not stopping or turning away. If he runs into the side of your boat or his kite hits aft of your mast; then he should have been able to turn away.

If you are sailing you need to know from what side a sailboat approaching you would be "on starbaord" or "leeward" and give the kite boarders the same privilege. The problem with this is that usually they want to sail across your wake to catch air and if you luff it puts them on a collision course with you; so you need to take this one on a case-by-case basis. If the boarder looks like he might run into you on the beam you might want to tack away so be ready to tack if it appears that you will collide.

ikemarks · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010

I'm an experienced kiter and a not so experienced sailer.

KeelHaulin is correct. But if kiters come that close it is to show off and be juvenile, not out of a need to use the wake to ramp off of.

Note that an experienced kiter is normally quite maneuverable and can turn on a dime very quickly. However, things go wrong. If you ever see a kite down on the water, please steer clear and try to stay about 100 meters away (especially if you are downwind).

Also, watch out for beginner kiteboarders (sounds like this is the one that Snowdawg encountered). They can have a lot of trouble stopping and relaunching their kite. Sometimes they are at the mercy of their kite and the wind and not cognizant of the danger they pose to themselves and other people.

Kiters do practice the same right-of-way rules as sailboats with ourselves but generally will just get out of a boat's way...

snowdawg · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate the information from both of you. I do believe they were using me as a floating marker buoy to race to but the third one just bailed out rather than risk it. I'll be keeping a little more distance and a sharper eye on kiters. But they are fun to watch though. Might even try it one day.

Dennis

scottyt · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010

go thru channel 5 in the keys then go up one little island, they defiantly use boats as an obstacle and see how close they can get

ikemarks · #6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010

Scottyt, I have no trouble believing that; there are a lot of reckless kiters who have never set foot on a boat. But there are many of us who work hard to educate the kiting community to be better ambassadors for the sport. I'm sorry if you've had bad experiences.

Dennis, go for it! Its far easier than you would think to learn (hence the increasing number of numbskulls out there) and you will already have a highly developed sense of the wind by being a sailer.

paulk · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyt

go thru channel 5 in the keys then go up one little island, they defiantly use boats as an obstacle and see how close they can get

Imagine one getting his lines tangled in your rigging and damaging your masthead instruments. Would you consider it like getting your prop tangled in a lobster pot, and cut it free? Make him pay for the electronics too, and word would get around pretty quick to avoid sailboats.

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010

Part of the reason Kiteboarders can act like asshats and get away with it is they are pretty hard to identify. Kiteboards do not have a name and hailing port marked on them...so they can be pretty anonymous. If they change their clothes and the kite...they're effectively unrecognizable.

paulk · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010

So you're saying to hold on to the kite after you cut it down?
Hang it from your port spreader with the others, as a trophy?
Burn it on the grill?