► Sun, sex & priorities:

The sun and wind are back on our coasts! But with the sun come holidays, and sometimes overcrowded spots.

To avoid accidents in kite, wing, and surf and make the most of sunny sessions, it's important to follow a few basic rules.

On the water, you might encounter different users: fishermen, professional mariners, professional recreational boaters, and recreational boaters.

The first three groups have received professional training and are expected to know maritime rules. Recreational boaters have a more vague understanding. While some have obtained their boating licenses, very few have actually read the COLREGs.

Since ignorance of the law is no excuse, but no one has actually read all the texts, a brief overview seems useful to popularize the 34 pages of the COLREGs.

At sea, it's the COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) that dictate our conduct. Even though this document is published for vessels, and kitesurf, wing foil, windsurf, and Stand Up Paddle are considered beach craft, we must respect these common-sense rules written in black and white.

 

► At sea, vessels are divided by their "status," not their size or the captain's age.

 

- First distinction:

There are vessels with mechanical propulsion and vessels with sail propulsion.

 

- Second distinction:

Vessels engaged in fishing, vessels not under command, vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver, constrained by their draft, vessels not maneuvering, and vessels underway.

 

 

On the water, whether kitesurfing, wing foiling, windsurfing, or surfing, we can categorize things this way:

- Vessels engaged in fishing: not very common in kitesurf or wingfoil, but some do SUP trolling, so beware!

- Vessels not under command: these can be likened to riders who are out of control, with a broken line, torn kite, etc.

- Vessels with restricted maneuverability: these can be likened to riders entering the water, body dragging, or surfing a wave.

- Vessels constrained by their draft: foilers at launch. But especially beginners in school in their lesson area, which could be likened to their channel.

- Vessels not maneuvering: riders who have just taken a big wipeout, or a rider about to do their waterstart.

- Vessels underway: these are all riders navigating, regardless of their equipment-kite, kite foil, wing foil, windsurf board, fun board, paddle surf, SUP...

To simplify, it is always the more maneuverable vessel that must give way to the less maneuverable, based on its status and not its equipment!

 

 

► There are 9 simple rules and 2 GOLDEN rules in Kite, Wing, Windsurf:

 

Rule #1:

The rider entering the water from the beach has priority over the rider already navigating. Some think the opposite, especially in kitesurf...

Rule #2:

When crossing paths, the upwind kite rider keeps their kite high and the downwind rider lowers it. You must not obstruct riders who are downwind of you.

Rule #3:

The rider on port tack (front foot is the left foot) must maneuver when facing a starboard tack rider. The starboard tack rider must maintain their course and speed. If the port tack rider does not maneuver, the starboard tack rider must act, because there is no absolute priority on the water, only privileges, and everyone must avoid a collision.

Rule #4:

When two riders are moving in the same direction, the faster rider must give way to the slower rider ahead of them. The overtaken rider does not lose their privilege once the passing maneuver is completed.

Rule #5:

Look around before making a change of direction. Any change in course or speed, or both, must be significant enough to be immediately perceived by any other rider observing it.

Rule #6:

The rider surfing a wave has priority over someone jumping or going in the opposite direction. This rule is unfortunately too rarely respected at wave spots.

 Rule #7:

Priority must be given to other ocean and beach users who are not navigating. The rider must move downwind of them.

 Rule #8 :

To jump, a rider must have a clear safety zone of 50m downwind and 30m upwind.

 Rule #9 :

When two practitioners are on the beach at the same time, one kitesurfer is about to enter the water and the other is ready to land, both must keep clear of each other.

 

☼ Golden Rule #1:

If you pass upwind, keep your kite HIGH.

If you pass downwind, keep your kite LOW.

 

☼ Golden Rule #2:

Respect and common sense

  

► Common Sense in Kite, Wingfoil, and Windsurf:

I cross a wingfoiler or windsurfer while kiting: let the wingfoiler or windsurfer pass upwind, even if the kiter is on starboard tack. This simplifies things for everyone, because for the wing or windsurf mast to pass under a kite's lines, the kiter must bear away significantly.

I cross a wingfoiler or windsurfer while kiting: they are struggling to pass the bar because there isn't enough wind compared to the swell they have to face. Be nice, give them space.

I'm kitesurfing, wingfoiling, or funboarding, and there are paddle surfers around: It can be nice to let a surfer pass and then catch the next wave...

Jumping between swimmers or surfers: even if the water is flatter among swimmers, is the risk worth it?

I do my waterstart, and I wait for the active rider to pass me.

Do not ride in a prohibited spot, that's basic.

Do not ride in swimming areas, still and always basic.

Respect the take-off zones.

 

► In case of breakage or equipment abandonment at sea:

Call the safety services (CROSS number: 196) in case of lost equipment to avoid sending out rescue services unnecessarily, and most importantly, put your name and phone number on your kite and board so that rescue services can call you and avoid searching for you at sea for hours (it's mandatory, GlissEvolution offers you stickers to label your equipment).

 

► The Most Common Mistakes / Urban Legends of Kitesurfing and Wingfoil:

#I have priority!

At sea, there are no priorities, only privileges. The difference is important. Everyone must maneuver to avoid a collision!

"Every vessel must use all available means that are appropriate to the existing circumstances and conditions to determine if there is a risk of collision. If there is any doubt as to the risk of collision, it must be assumed that such risk exists."

 

#Starboard tack, king of the seas!

Starboard tack or not, depending on the situation, you may have to give way. A rider sailing downwind, a rider slower than you are overtaking...

 

#I'm overtaking and maneuvering as if I were alone in the world!

The overtaking rule requires the overtaking vessel to give way until all risk of collision is averted. 

 

#I'm a beginner, I have priority!

If the beginner rider is in a designated Kite lesson area with appropriate markings, yes. But when riding with full range, certainly not. This doesn't prevent an experienced rider from avoiding them. Avoid or pass under their Kite, and complain because the beginner made their Kite fall on them...

 

#I'm on a windsurf board, I have priority because I'm less maneuverable...

This is a pure urban legend. It is always the more maneuverable vessel that must give way to the less maneuverable vessel, depending on its condition and not its type of craft!

However, letting a surfer paddling surf while you're on a wing, kite, or windsurf board, that's good etiquette!

 

#I have a sailboat with the engine on, I have priority over a motorboat!

Engine on means mechanical propulsion, full stop.

By the way, you can see it in your wake; a boat sailing solely by sail doesn't create turbulence...

 

#I'm doing my port maneuvers under sail, I'm going first!

 

Port maneuvers under sail are prohibited, so no privileges... However, some boats are not equipped to receive an engine and their users do not want to install mechanical assistance or row, so they are forced to tack. Don't look for it, these are purists. And are you really in that much of a hurry?

 

 

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► Kite, Wingfoil, and Windsurf Glossary:

Vessel:

Any craft or apparatus of any kind whatsoever, including non-displacement craft such as seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

Privilege:

A particular advantage considered to confer a favor.

Priority:

The right to pass before another or others, by virtue of a regulation, law, etc.

Tacks:

The tack is the side of the boat first touched by the wind. There are two starboard tacks and port tacks. If you face the direction of the boat's travel and it takes the wind from the right, you are on starboard tack; from the left, it's port tack. That's the theory!

In wing, kite, or windsurfing, we think more simply: if your right hand is forward, you are on starboard tack. If your left hand is forward, you are on port tack.

COLREGs:

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which dictate our good conduct at sea. Even though this document is published for vessels, and kitesurfing, wing foiling, and paddleboarding are considered beach craft, we must respect these common-sense rules written in black and white.

Upwind:

The expression "upwind" is used to locate an object in space by indicating that it is on the side from which the wind is blowing, relative to a reference object. Thus, the object is beyond a line perpendicular to the wind passing through the object, and receives the wind before the reference object.

Downwind:

The expression "downwind" is used to locate an object in space by indicating that it is on the opposite side from which the wind is blowing, relative to a reference object. Thus, the object is beyond a line perpendicular to the wind passing through the object, and receives the wind after the reference object.

Luffing / Bearing Away in Kite, Wingfoil, and Windsurf:

Either you head closer to the wind: this is called luffing (1).
Or you head away from the wind: this is called bearing away (2).

A sudden change in direction (of course) is called a yaw. There is:
Auloffée: if the boat luffs.
Abatée: if the boat bears away.