Windsurfers at Lancelin

I was out on Tuesday at South Passage at Lancelin in the waves. It was blowing around 25 knots and was excellent conditions for both kiters and windsurfers.

There was about 20 windsurfers on the break and one other kiter. A mate and I kited out to get into the waves which we had been doing every day. We had been on the same break earlier in the day when it was less windy and the three of us out there were having a blast by outselves.

Because the wind was up and the windsurfers were out I was astounded at the level of abuse that my mate and I were getting off some of the windsurfers.

My mate and I had done at least 20 years of windsurfing before we got into kiting. Kiting has now taken over our lives and we are happy to go to our old breaks and carve up the waves.

I could not believe what went on, I was very angry and disappointed. There are two basic sets of rules, one is surfing rules as who gets the wave and the other is boating rules which determines which sail craft needs to give way. The windsurfers giving the most lip did not seem to know either of these sets of rules and were placing themsleves in the wrong spot then blaming other people for their lack of knowledge and skills.

Eventually they won, my mate and I left because it just was not worth taking **** over. We had a house on the beach and could go out when we wanted to the following day.

I still like to go windsurfing but following this incident it was damaged my impression of those who do the sport that I loved.
If I was angry and young I could have easily jumped my board through the masts and sails to get back at these people as they are far more vunerable then we are.
Don't be silly if you windsurf, this type of behaviour is totally unacceptable on the water and off the water. What goes around comes around and one day if you act like that in the waves someone with less tolerance will seriously damage you and your equipment all of which does no good for anyone.

Mads

You're a classic Richie

Im all for the circle work rule
Kiters need to abide by this rule too. I have absolute no dramas with kiters. Some of my good mates are kiters (I feel so sorry for them) and I enjoy being out with them because they are sharing the stoke and want exactly what Im out there wanting... WAVES!
Its simple. Head out the back, be the last one to gybe and ride a swell in until it breaks. Only drop back if no one is behind you. If you dont get a wave, head all the way in, turn around and join the line. When your the furtherest out the back its your turn to gybe and try again. This should work yeah? Sounds fair?
Simple. Its been around for years even in the surf rules. If anyone doesnt know, its called a LINE UP

Not that I have a problem with kiting... but,

Sure way to get kiting banned --> jumping through someones sail deliberately... and end up in court after being hit with assault/malicious damage charges...

Everyone is out there to have fun and emjoy the wind.


I have been wave sailing for almost 20 years as a windsurfer at many spots around the county, before that I surfed and in those 35 years on the water I have never seen the system break down so badly or experienced such silliness.
Starboard tack has right of way, bear away if in doubt.
Avoid accidents at all cost
Line up for the wave and take turns
If there is a peak with no one likely to get on to it because they are all heading the otherway then gybe and get on the wave as it was no bodies.
If you are on the inside of the peak and aready on the wave then the wave is yours, dropping in out the outside of the wave and pushing people into the white wash is not acceptable.
Shooting behind some one lining up a wave shouldn't be done as the person lining up the wave is already picking the best spot for his maneovers.
If someone drops in then just go round and don't worry, everyone is out there to have fun and some just don't know the rules
If someone is in trouble help them out
If someone is down in the water safety comes first not the wave

Will the behaviour shown on the wave or in this email responses make the next experience on your favourite wave better or worse.

Winds up and I am going out to enjoy it, hopefully you can do the same and have a good time on the waves.

For me when I experience any agro I will just find another wave to ride, I'm out there for fun how about you?

I sailed Lancelin in the pre kite era and it was a mad bun fight. Doesn't sound like much has changed.

Al

Nebbian and Richiefish, as I am sure you know, South Passage is about a kilometer away from Werners illegal sign and windsurfing area –to what distance from the sign are you making claim to the sea?

Last year (or year before) when I was called to drag in a windsurfer who had broken his arm at the break directly offshore from the kiting area I didn’t hear much bleating about no kiting or “ownership” of the windsurfing area from any of you guys.

Well I'll give Madds the benefit of the doubt and assume he knows the rules (seems to have a handle on it maybe).

I think I have figured out what causes a lot of right of way problems in waves between kiters and windsurfers.

Windsurfers- we run out in a straight line, turn around on a swell and come in ... in a straight line, often running upwind using the assistance of that swell, before making the drop and riding down the line.

Kiters- well they are just bl00dy hard to read. Yes they go in and out like us but you can't tell when they are going to turn.... they just (excuse lack of technical terms here) fly the kite back over their head and change direction on a dime and sail back the other way switch stance in a fraction of a second.
When they ride a wave you can't tell if an arc is a bottom turn or if it is going to be a really rapid gybe.
Because they have that ability and the slidy style of riding, they
(1) slide sideways sometimes and (2) tend to do short runs through the break.... they don't go out 100 - 300m past the waves like we do... and they often gybe onto a wave when it is just about to break ... whereas we pick it up outside.

Now I don't agree with Madds necessarily.... as I said if 20 ppl were yelling at him maybe he is the problem ???? BUT I think a solution, in part , is for kiters to ride like we do..... (Not saying Madds did this!) but: pick the wave up on the outside and don't turn onto somebody else's wave. Don't get downwind of a guy who is just about to run down the line.

KITERS MAKE YOUR INTENTIONS OBVIOUS. Run straight out.... don't turn in the break unless you are riding a wave.
Simple

All I see at South Passage is ramps. That's me heading out straight up the face and pulling a "General" at 50 feet then snaking back to ride it right over the reef. Suck it up girls. LOL