Kite-surfer Cuts a Tight Circle And Hit's Our Lure

[Lagoon4us]

Sailing along 9Greek Isle's) last week and a kite-surfer comes from our Stb side and passes in front of us 20 metres clear (we were maintaining course and running at 6.5knots). He was doing up to 15knots approx.

He then ran down our port side again 20 metres clear only to turn sharply across our stern clearing our boat by 10 metres only to go under our trolling lure and hook up!!!

We cut the line....

So who is in the wrong?

Do kite surfers and the like have the same rights we do?

Cheers

[monte]

what, no photo ! Same thing happened to us off Korcula sans lure! The windsurfers and kitesurfers there love it. Of course they are under sail so normal COLREGS apply, but most of them don't maintain course and speed for long enough to make them a stand on vessel. I usually keep an eye out if one happens to maintain course and speed and take action before it's a problem, but sounds like you were the stand on vessel. So he took your lure? haha, ouch!

[Lagoon4us]

That's the problem they cut circles around you so quickly there's no action you can take and there's no communication other "you idiot that's our lure" !!!!!!

Picture was early in the happenings..

[boatman61]

Had a guy do that off S Sicily a couple of years back... hated the sod... tall, tanned, full head of hair, brilliant white teeth.. muscles... good looking booga made me sick...
Ban em I say...

[monte]

sounds like this idjut kiting through the moorings at Formentera !

OOps that was me

[captain58sailin]

You should have set the hook! I expect those kites are pretty expensive. Hang his carcass from the yardarm until he rots off, guaranteed to keep other kite flyers away.

[rebel heart]

I don't know if they're qualified as vessels (yet) by COLREGS. Stand up paddleboards are only vessels in non swimming-surf areas. If you're in a channel with a SUP, you're on a vessel and subject to COLREGS. If you're surfing or putzing around at the beach, you're on a surf board (no PFD required, etc).

Kite surfers have quite restricted maneuverability and are subject to speed increases and directional changes that are beyond their control, even more so if they're new to the sport.

But in general I believe that yes, they are a person enjoying the water, and have as much rights to be there as anyone else.

Hopefully COLREGS (no doubt lead by the USCG's rule making engine) will clarify things a bit in the next couple of years.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

We cut the line....

Here's your mistake. You should have reeled him in and had him for dinner.

[Ocean Girl]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

That's the problem they cut circles around you so quickly there's no action you can take and there's no communication other "you idiot that's our lure" !!!!!!

Picture was early in the happenings..

It reminds me of when us monohulls complain about you multihulls



Sorry you lost your lure, hope it wasn't your favorite one.

[Tomi]

some garlic and a squeeze of lime.....

[SVNeko]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I don't know if they're qualified as vessels (yet) by COLREGS. Stand up paddleboards are only vessels in non swimming-surf areas. If you're in a channel with a SUP, you're on a vessel and subject to COLREGS. If you're surfing or putzing around at the beach, you're on a surf board (no PFD required, etc).

Kite surfers have quite restricted maneuverability and are subject to speed increases and directional changes that are beyond their control, even more so if they're new to the sport.

But in general I believe that yes, they are a person enjoying the water, and have as much rights to be there as anyone else.

Hopefully COLREGS (no doubt lead by the USCG's rule making engine) will clarify things a bit in the next couple of years.

Its the same deal for kiteboarders. I think Australia and NZ consider them vessels as well.

http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/...ations/479.PDF