Im going with it was small Marg's and the windsurfers taken off to deep behind the peak.
The fact is he should have seen the surfer paddling and should of at least took of downwind of him if he couldnt pull out,then he would have only dropped in on him instead of running him down
You are spot on gazza, he took off too deep.
If it was the green simmer guy, he also choose not to use the keyhole and sailed straight over the reef(headed out left with the offshr wind). Amazed he didn't get smashed.
In my own Opinion, I will always let slower mover catch the wave even if I was on first. So, body surfer, surfer 2 than windsurfer.
Boogie boarders are slower and kitesurfer I treat them as windsurfer unless they are not fair play, in that case, I charge!
Anyone who says the surfer gets right away all the time doesn't wave-sail a popular break very often. I would never get a wave if I followed that philosophy. While I am dogging back out there are 8-10 waves for surfers.
Also I live in MR - and if you want to paddle out in 15knt SSE afternoon seabreeze with 15 windsurfers when there are 10 other sheltered good breaks within 15 minutes then your a bit of a dick head. I surf mains everyday when I am not windsurfing and 99% of the guys out at mains when its windy don't live here.
i agree with pottssy, when its windy surfers shouldn't be out. i have sailed margaret when its windy and there are still surfers out, those guys must seriously be desperate. i've surfed (not at MR) when its windy and it sucks even if its only 5-10 kts made much worse if the wind is side or on-shore
Who has right of way?
Well I don't pretend to know the whole story from just one picture but this is what I do know and it makes no difference if you are pole dancing or belly scratching.
Who ever is on the wave (swell) first has right of way otherwise you are dropping in or snaking.
I would not go out at Margs if there was a bunch of surfers in the water and I would not expect surfers to come out if there was a bunch of sailors still out.
If anyone realy knows how to wave sail the deeper you are the more chance you have of nailing the peak and when you have surfers in the water where do they sit? Thats right, the perfect spot to hit the lip.
Yep we do some people out who can't see the other side and don't look before they have a go and thats no good for either crew.
A simple bit of respect and everyone has a turn.
In general, surfers has always right of ways.
In real life, well known windsurfing spots when surfers can only surf windswell...surfer will eat their bordshorts....in surfers point break, windsurfers will eat their boardshorts...it all depend of the locals...who's more organise, who's more aggressive or passive.
1st on the swell has right of way.
If there are a few WS'ers and surfers out at same time, this rule is invalid as of course the windsurfer was on it 1st as he is right out back sitting on it. Then the surfers would never get any waves if we followed that rule.
If you can't ascertain who is on it first, then closest to the peak has ROW. That would apply in this case.
The whole idea of "closest to the peak" comes from surfing and basically gives the ROW to whoever can make the most of that wave (closest to peak)
The WS'er can't make the most of the wave as he can't go left (as we are looking at the pic) whereas the surfer can go left.
Thus the surfer owns it.
The WS'er should never have taken that wave as it was obvious what would happen, however in his defence the surfer would have been unseen to him for the most part as he is behind the foot of the sail.
BTW In Esperance, as it is nicely crossoff and glasys on the lighter days, there are often surfers out at same time as windsurfers if it is only 15-20kn. Never any probs.
I recently went on a trip up WA coast and visited MR for a few days.....
If this happened in MR, the rules are clearly outlined at the top of the cliff (see below)...........
The #1 rule at MR for ROW is furthest out... I assume that the windsurfer was on the wave first so surely its not even debatable that the windsurfer had ROW????