Wingsurfing Right of Way

[Matteo V]

Any thoughts on who has right of way in the windsurfing, wingsurfing, kitesurfing arena?

[pj sofine]

Sorry, no.

[BWD]

1. Don’t be a dick
2. Yield to whoever will cause an accident.
3. When common sense fails, starboard tack is the actual rule. If you’re in starboard you have to keep going until past the danger. If on port you have to yield to avoid those on starboard.
4. In surf be extra nice and don’t get in the way.

Same rules for all windsports.

[Toby]

Kiters go first

[PabloQ]

common sense is the least common of the senses. So you must observe who is in your step, and if you see doubts in the person and their way of navigating, do what you can to avoid their trajectory.
Also, as they said, the rule of who has his right bow before, is who has the right of way.

[Herman]

It is just another sailing craft, plus wave riding etiquette, plus common sense, plus give learners a break, plus early and exaggerated deviations to show which side you are going, and talk to each other etc.

[Matteo V]

It is just another sailing craft,.....

There is no such thing as just another sailing craft when talking about right of way.

More maneuverable craft yields to less maneuverable craft. This is foundational in maritime law, along with some other rules encompassing all vessels.


So, anyone know who is more maneuverable, and thus has right of way?

[elguapo]

It is just another sailing craft, plus wave riding etiquette, plus common sense, plus give learners a break, plus early and exaggerated deviations to show which side you are going, and talk to each other etc. Waiting to find one with a hand attached!

arent the wingsurf things about as mobile as every other floatsum in the water...
meaning if you exercised your right of way privileges and had an accident...it would still be kind of your fault (for being a big dummy for not avoiding that wingsum)


just treat 'em like any other large mass getting pushed slowly downwind with minimum mobility ( ie go around/jump over/rail slide on)

[grigorib]

It is just another sailing craft,.....

There is no such thing as just another sailing craft when talking about right of way.

More maneuverable craft yields to less maneuverable craft. This is foundational in maritime law, along with some other rules encompassing all vessels.


So, anyone know who is more maneuverable, and thus has right of way?

^^^^first thing that came to my mind. Wingsurfers, SUP, foilers, surfers are less maneuverable vessels and have right of way.

The wingsurf probably has better application on land and snow. But certainly it's a cool rental device for fat aging tourists and learning curve (just as enjoyment from riding it) would be minimal. But then there will be swarms of those guys in your way everywhere and that would suck big.

[rynhardt]

just treat 'em like any other large mass getting pushed slowly downwind with minimum mobility ( ie go around/jump over/rail slide on)

Now that's more like it! Mobile rails