Site specific rules

[RustyChain]

Got called out for breaking the rules at a spot I was visiting. I wasn't yielding to a port tack. I try to give people space and stay out of the way, but when crossing paths, both people holding the line vs both people heading downwind causes about the same problem, so if it's gonna be close I hold the starboard tack because that is what we both expect to happen.

I've never heard of a port tacks having the right of way. Is this common?

[Blackened]

Got called out for breaking the rules at a spot I was visiting. I wasn't yielding to a port tack. I try to give people space and stay out of the way, but when crossing paths, both people holding the line vs both people heading downwind causes about the same problem, so if it's gonna be close I hold the starboard tack because that is what we both expect to happen.

I've never heard of a port tacks having the right of way. Is this common?

Universal sailing rules. Starboard must hold tack. Port must avoid. You were correct.

[Toby]

But once a little wave gets involved they claim always right of way...

Right hand in front is the worldwide rule. For everyone.

On a surf spot with good wave give way to the guy in the wave.

[RustyChain]

But once a little wave gets involved they claim always right of way...

Right hand in front is the worldwide rule. For everyone.

On a surf spot with good wave give way to the guy in the wave.

It wasn't a surf spot. Chop and swells with starboard going out and port coming back to the beach.

[Toby]

But once a little wave gets involved they claim always right of way...

Right hand in front is the worldwide rule. For everyone.

On a surf spot with good wave give way to the guy in the wave.

It wasn't a surf spot. Chop and swells with starboard going out and port coming back to the beach.

then you had the right of way

[grigorib]

#0. Avoid collision
#1. Less maneuverable vessel has right of way (surfers, barges, racers flying 35 knots, SUP, semi-static ones, beginners barely able to maintain position....)
#2. Obey local traffic pattern (channels, marinas, slicks, breaks..)
#3. Starboard is a king of the seas
#4. Lower your kite when passing downwind, raise when passing upwind

[longwhitecloud]

Theses threads always make me laugh. Show up... just plough though everyone shouting starboard! Always goes down well.

Finish off by getting your world rules handbook out and underlining the rule that applies.

I’ll give another couple of examples I can think of

A port tack trick session.
Trying to get upwind when you are not really upwind
Short tacking ...theoretically I can block you even though you are in a wave or trick queue.

[Blackened]

Theses threads always make me laugh. Show up... just plough though everyone shouting starboard! Always goes down well.

Finish off by getting your world rules handbook out and underlining the rule that applies.

I’ll give another couple of examples I can think of

A port tack trick session.
Trying to get upwind when you are not really upwind
Short tacking ...theoretically I can block you even though you are in a wave or trick queue.

Yes, you're right. We always forget a couple life rules that should apply to everything that rarely ever apply to anything:

1. Be aware of people around you and that your actions often have effects on others.
2. Try to not be a cuntt.

[Matteo V]

#3. Starboard is a king of the seas

This is wrong.

Starboard is actually more restricted than port. If you have the starboard "right of way", you can only do one thing - hold course and speed.

If you are on port, you can make any course or speed change to avoid.

If you are starboard, and you change course or speed, you have yeilded the right of way to the other vessel and now you must take action to avoid them.


In my years windsurfing and kiteboarding, I have noticed that windsurfers are just barely smart enough to understand the simple concept above. Kitesurfers.....well, they are not quite smart enough.

Still, funny that the "wave right of way rule" is easily understood by both windsurfers and kitesurfers.