Solent Ranger
Junior Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2004
- Messages
- 5
- Location
- Hamble
- Cruising area
- South Coast
- Boat name
- Solitaire
- Boat make
- Fairline Sprint
- Engines(s)
- Yamaha 370 STI
And we think we have it bad sometimes. I subscribe to a US forum and there has been considerable discussion regarding the rights of Kite surfers over powerboats.
Quote:
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Just to let everyone know, if you come across a kiteboarder you MUST give way if not under sail or man power. Kiteboarders are considered sail powered. I can't tell you how many times I've been cut off by power boats. Hell, I've had to jump over one before and almost got charged with wreckless endangerment for jumping over it to save my own butt.
Sorry, going off on a rant here, but you must know you have to give way to kiters as you would a sailboat.
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Now, the discussion has been quite heated at times and the Kite surfer even went so far as to post a diagram of the incident. The Kite surfer is the Black arrow on the diagram and the boat he jumped is the red one.
Answers on a postcard! For what it's worth, my view is that the red boat is the stand off vessel and as such has a requirement to take positive action by slowing down and passing behind the kite surfer. However, the discussion on the US forum is that Kite surfers do not have the same rights as a yacht under sail! This would then allow the red boat to be correctly positioned to pass the second powerboat - i.e port to port. This then lends a conundrum to the second powerboat in terms of his actions! Relative to the Kite surfer, this boat is also the stand off vessel but which way does he turn?? IMHO the kite surfer pulls the stripes here but common sence might be applicable!
Quote:
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Just to let everyone know, if you come across a kiteboarder you MUST give way if not under sail or man power. Kiteboarders are considered sail powered. I can't tell you how many times I've been cut off by power boats. Hell, I've had to jump over one before and almost got charged with wreckless endangerment for jumping over it to save my own butt.
Sorry, going off on a rant here, but you must know you have to give way to kiters as you would a sailboat.
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Now, the discussion has been quite heated at times and the Kite surfer even went so far as to post a diagram of the incident. The Kite surfer is the Black arrow on the diagram and the boat he jumped is the red one.
Answers on a postcard! For what it's worth, my view is that the red boat is the stand off vessel and as such has a requirement to take positive action by slowing down and passing behind the kite surfer. However, the discussion on the US forum is that Kite surfers do not have the same rights as a yacht under sail! This would then allow the red boat to be correctly positioned to pass the second powerboat - i.e port to port. This then lends a conundrum to the second powerboat in terms of his actions! Relative to the Kite surfer, this boat is also the stand off vessel but which way does he turn?? IMHO the kite surfer pulls the stripes here but common sence might be applicable!