I would like to open a can of "right of way" worms

WindWarrior · Since 13 Apr 2008 64 Posts

There are many who kite between the sandbar and the White Salmon Bridge who are just learning to fly their kites...therefore, to expect them to consider "right of way" and seamanship is a high expectation. Therefore, this might be a good plan of attack for the more experienced kiter who looks where they are going and not at the kite:

When you are on the water approaches another kiter who is looking more at the kite and not in the direction they are going, it would be wise for you to take action and get out of the way. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to take action well in advance so that the less experienced kiter is NOT forced into make a bad decision.

Another topic of importance is looking back and downwind before you turn around/transition or jump. I have seen more instances this season of kiters who turn without looking only to find another kiter in their path. One might argue that the 2nd kiter should not follow so closely. But it seems that often the two are on different tacks (one reaching and the other running down wind). With this and other considerations, it is imperative to look in the direction you plan to change direction (or jump) FIRST before taking the action. I know this takes a little of the spontaneity out of the sport but the area between the Sandbar the White Salmon Bridge is becoming very congested and with some though and consideration, it can still be a great place to kite.

A third topic is riding swells and giving right of way...When you are on a tack and approach someone riding swell (for example at the White Salmon Bridge), it is good surfing etiquette to let the person riding the swell to have right of way. Therfore, your best option is either to pinch up wind of the swell rider or turn in the other direction. If this makes little sense, try riding some great swell and see what it feels like to have someone break off your line just because they are trying to get up wind. Smooth buttery swell is more sporadic and uncommon to find than space to get upwind..therefore, give the right of way to the swell rider and they will do the same for you!

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

It not a right of way.

It’s an obligation to hold course and speed.
This holding of course and speed allows others to plan a course that does not cause collision.

On the swell at the white salmon we have been riding like the windsurfers for the last 10 years.
Windsurfers traditionally allowed each other to enjoy the swells without cutting each other off.
When someone is having a lot of fun on a swell, please go around them.

moondog · Thu Aug 18, 11 7:36 am

WindWarrior ,Your last paragraph makes total sense. This sport has turned into a" directional board ride the swell" activity. Most of us have a nice clockwise flow riding at the bridge and Hatch until some clueless tool tacks into the flow and we all scatter until he tacks out of the the playground.
I read in the NY Times that the 3 most dangerous places on earth were:
1. Mogadishu
2. Afghanistan
3. The Hood River Sandbar in July and August

Aeolus · Thu Aug 18, 11 8:31 am

All kidding aside.... kiting a lot with the windsurfers down here at pistol and the "flow" is serious business. In all fairness to Jon and Moondog, all swell riders etc...I should also recognize that it is serious business there in the Gorge....I should know better than to stir the pot Very Happy

....good article by richards though...know before you go!

that said....dial in your wave etiquette or you'll look like a tool

whatcouldgowrong · Since 28 Jun 2011 11 Posts Hood/Baja

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

You know who has the right of way??

Han Solo.

That's who you have to be at the Event Site.

Enough of this C-3PO stuff.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Funny - I was thinking more along these lines.............

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Aug 18, 11 4:49 pm

I think next to the "kite board rules of navigation sign" there ought to be a big box of pampers.

LVDWD · Since 04 May 2009 104 Posts Stoked

Hilton wrote "It was decided that anyone with a helmet, life jacket, board leash, or Go-Jo automatically has the right of way."

Thats great I qualify based upon two of the criteria. Maybe I need to go back to the Go-Jo and board leash so that I am totally in.

Hope the comment was tongue in cheek. As Yogi Bera said "you only need all this kiteboard safety stuff when you need it"-maybe it wasn't Yogi but it sounds better when you have a vaunted source for your quotes. The rest of the time you can just look cool in board shorts.

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

Whatcouldgowrong got it right.
Yes the rider on the swell on a starboard tack should stay on the swell.
If you are riding a swell to the right on a starboard tack the rider approaching on the port tack can only avoid you by hoping that you will continue doing the same thing. When you bring the kite to the Washington side you lose your obligation and it’s your job to go around everybody on a starboard tack.

I am definitely going right on the swell for long distances carving top and bottom turns this is a starboard tack. I need to hold course until there is an opening on the port side. When I turn the kite or loop the kite and go left on the swell I need to avoid the kiters and sailors on the starboard tack.

When I am passing a rider on a starboard tack from the up wind side on a wave I will attempt to cut behind them with a short port tack then go back to starboard. This works if the rider I am passing holds course and speed.

Carving repeated and consistent top and bottom turns riding on a swell does not count as a course change. Cutting the other way counts as a course change.

ridercentral · Since 20 May 2009 38 Posts PDX-Coast-Gorge

did anyone mention... if someone is strapless on a surfboard, wakeskate, skimboard or whatever ... and you are mowing the lawn to get up wind or whatever on your strapped in twin tip ... just YIELD !

Lots of folks need to realize that the direction is not just back and forth across the river... look upwind in swells for people riding pretty much directly downwind on river swell, cuz that's how we roll in the gorge. Doesn't really matter port or starboard or whatever. Yield to those who are ripping if possible.

Have fun. Don't get butt-hurt. Move.

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

moondog · Sun Aug 21, 11 5:34 pm

The reason I started this thread:
1. Kiteboarding in the Hood has increased exponentially in the last 8 years
2. There are lots of new people that learned from their buddies
3. They consequentially didn't learn rules of safety and water courtesy that our fabulous local instructors teach.
4.Right of way rules could be easily posted along with the other signage concerning the sand bar at the event site.
I started kiting 16 years ago in the D.R. and 14 years on the Columbia. The game has changed dramatically. It is much safer, consequentially , Grandma and Uncle Rufus are taking it up! I'm just trying to head off a future problem of kite entanglements.
8 years ago or so I saw Robbie Naish tangle his kite with another competitor in Stevenson during an event. If Robbie can do what about Uncle Rufus? Robbie ate some humble pie and had to swim in! One of the best kiters in the world, who would have thunk!

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

You started in 1995? Are you sure? Cory was the only one kiting then in the Gorge. 1997 was the first year I saw anyone with modern inflatable type kite in the Gorge, it must have been you.

moondog · Sun Aug 21, 11 6:19 pm

I was talking to Cory the other day. He has 3-5 years on me along with another man that now lives in Scandanavia, I forgot his name, but he was just out here kiting last month. My only claim is the first kiter in Minnesota in a kayak and a ram air out of Montreal called a Concept Air. It was a scary first 3 years. My best friend had the first ram air Slingshot. Lots of trial and error teaching ourselves, breaking ribs, fingers and trying to figure out what a chicken loop was for. We finally called Naish in Hawaii to find out what the chicken loop did.Larry, the other pioneer in Minnesota had a 2 line Wipika. He is out here now for the month kiting on something called a North Rebel.