Will wrote:Few beginners out to watch for as usual at BB. One of which thought it would be a great idea to transition 30ft in front of me, as approaching me from a downwind tack while I had upwind priority and starboard tack right of way...
Sure would be nice if people would learn the proper safety and right of way rules kiting
...oh well, fun day none the less. Great to see everyone out!
A great refresher for all of us:
http://kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteb ... -way-rulesAlso a couple of things that I consider 'courteous':
1) if you're behind another kiter and the kiter in front of you looks back (as if wanting to make a transition (especially when getting into shallow water/near an obstacle/near shore etc.), do the right thing and do a transition yourself immediately (of course look behind you first, to ensure you can safely transition also) Give the person in front of you tons of room and if you're setting up for a jump, make another tack instead (this is especially important at the Spit honey hole). It's frustrating when you look back a few times, the person behind you doesn't transition, then you have no recourse but to put your ass in the water and stop with kite at 12 (kiter behind you will have to do a transition now anyways!, so just transition immediately to avoid this)
2) Anyone ever had to 'thread the needle' (single kiter needing to pass in between two kiters?) In this case it's not always possible to put your kite High or Low with normal Right of Way rules. It's also not always possible (or safe) for the single kiter to do a transition (if they're trying to get away from shore. Look around and if you see that a fellow kiter might have to 'thread the needle', be nice and just transition to make lots of room for everyone.
3) If you see a newbie, just give them lots of room, regardless of right of way rules. It's frustrating and challenging enough when you're trying to learn your first board starts or anxiety about staying upwind, and they don't need extra anxiety about other kiters getting close to them, so just give them room.
Feel free to add to the list. None of us are perfect and we've all had lapses in judgment but we can all do our part to keep things fun and safe.