Who's playing chicken with the sailboats.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Got this in my email from the Port of Hood River.

"We would also like to issue a safety reminder for boaters to maintain a safe distance from dangerous kiteboarding lines. Kiteboarding launch sites from Port property are limited to two specific sites. Kiters are allowed to launch from a location at the Hook, but most activity occurs from the Spit. The Port is asking for your cooperation in exercising caution and keeping a safe distance from this watersport."

Laurie Borton
Office Specialist/Marina Manager

Some responses from boat owners:

In response to Laurie Borton's safety message about KITERS!

It is pretty hard maintaining a safe distance from kiters when they are deliberatly charging on us boaters ! Speaking from expiereince , I have had the displeasure of having my mast wrap up with kite lines in resuit pulling my boat over on its side. I highly recomend to all fellow sailboaters if you don't have a HOOK KNIFE close at hand I would get one a make it readly availabe to cut any kite lines away from you if you were to incounter any idiot KITE CHARGERS like I did! THEY WILL LOSE THE BATTLE!!!!

HAPPY SAILING

I've been waiting for some other responses... Charging is exactly right, and of course w/o generalizing, but I had three play games of chicken w/ me on Sunday alone. The kiters that are good are in great control, but not all of them are, not all sail boaters are, and we all know the nature of the gorge with it's puffs and lulls. And when they're doing upwards of twice to three times the speed we are, and only draw mere inchs, it's ludicrous to think that we who are bound by deeper water should "keep a safe distance from them." And that's at a narrow part of the river, which of course is due to jetties the port built, but I digress... Keep in mind, that in the event of an incident, if property damage or injury were enough for the lawyers to get involved, the facts will be treated by maritime law, and both "vessels" fault will be judged on starboard/port and windward/leeward right-of-way. Don't ask me how I know...

Onad · Wed Aug 09, 06 5:19 am

Are you talking about these things G-Man?? Wink

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

man, those things in the pic look like giant windsurf boads. gman, how do you get those things up in the air on jumps? does it take a lot of hot air?. . .
jimmi

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Playing chicken with sailboats is gay. Playing chicken with barges is for real men.

So here is a question?
Assuming maritime law applies to kites and sailboats (it sounded that way from irrate sailor #2).

If the kiter is on starboard tack with a sailboat approaching on port tack downwind of him (the kiter should yeild because he can see the giant slow moving pig from a mile away)

But the kiter is a douche and want to test our courts maritime legal system. Maybe the kiter thought there was room - he sees the collision coming and screams STARBOARD! holds his course and decapitates the rail meat on the sailboat.

Does kiter douche get a new kite or go to prison?

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

People excel at leaving their brains on land when they step on the water aboard any kind of watercraft (but the locusts of the water on jetskiis take it to the next level).

The starboard kiter has right of way over the port tack sailboat, but two things should keep the summers eve fresh kiter from challenging that

1. Maritime Law requires all skippers to avoid collissions

2. The rule of gross tonnage- if someone is way bigger than you, stay out of their way!

NateDogg · Wed Aug 09, 06 12:04 pm

Yup. I always go by the gross tonnage rule. If I'm heading towards something bigger than me, it's probably much less manueverable, so I bear off. Unless it's a barge...then I just hit a few rails on the way by, throw a slim off the end and flip the tug captain the bird....inverted Twisted Evil

Charlie: "...and what exactly were you doing in an inverted 4 G negative dive with a MiG?"

Goose: "Uhh....communicating. You know...flipping him the bird? I've got a great polaroid"

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

I almost always give right of way... I think the kiter/kiter, kite/sailboat, kiter/barge type standoff is just a way to show off my latest dangle style transition jump! Wink

crucifunkin · Since 31 Aug 2005 37 Posts

if we're going by the gross tonage rule, then I have right of way over all other kiters. (read I like beer and donuts) but I'm not fat, just big boned. Wink

brokenlizard · Wed Aug 09, 06 6:46 pm

I'M NOT FAT!!!!! IT'S A GLANDULAR CONDITION!!!! Laughing

I'm all for the gross tonnage rule.