Right of way
The rider with the green kite has right of way.
- The outgoing rider has right of way over the incoming rider : the wind is often more turbulent on land than on the water.
The rider who is on land is the one more at risk, which is why he has the priority.
- When two riders converge : the rider going starboard (kite right-hand side) has right of way
and the rider going port tack (kite left-hand side) must give right of way and pass downwind with his kite as low as possible.
- The rider going faster than another in the same direction must give way to the slowest rider : the one going faster is the one who has a global vision of the situation since he arrives from behind.
- The rider passing upwind (windward) from another kiteboarder must fly his kite overhead.
- The kiteboarder downwind (leeward) must pilot his kite as low as possible.
- The rider surfing a wave has the right of way over the one who is jumping or going in the opposite direction: when surfing a wave,
the kite is less easy to pilot so there is less room for maneuvers. Nevertheless, the rule for the outgoing rider is applicable when the waves
are close to the shore (shore break). In this case, the rider who is surfing will have to give way to the rider who is going out.
- When jumping the rider moves downwind, he must have a clear safety zone of 50m downwind . He must also have a clear safety zone of 30m upwind because his lines could touch the kite or the lines of another rider kiteboarding close by.
- Right of way must be given to other ocean users : kiteboarding is the latest nautical sport. It is not always well accepted and known by other ocean users. Kiteboard downwind to them.
Safety rules : the 10 commandments
- Never kitesurf or kiteboard with off shore wind.
- Kiteboarders must never launch close to obstacles.
- Check weather forecast before each session and be aware of weather evolution.
- Before rigging and launching, kiteboarders must evaluate the force of the wind and use an appropriate kite size.
- Use functional safety systems.
- Do a preflight check before each session.
- Never over estimate your skill level : "If in doubt, don't go out!"
- Know the sailing rules, local rules and riding areas.
- Never ride further out than you can swim.
- Avoid solo launching.
Evolution of Kitesurfing
At the beginning...
Two brothers, Bruno Legaignoux and Dominique Legaignoux, from the Atlantic coast of France, developed kites for kitesurfing in the late 1970s and early 1980s and patented an inflatable kite
design in November 1984, a design that has been used by companies to develop their own products.
In 1996 Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin were instrumental in demonstrating and popularising kitesurfing off the Hawaiian coast of Maui.
In 1997 the Legaignoux brothers developed and sold the breakthrough "Wipika" kite design which had a structure of preformed inflatable tubes and a simple bridle system to the wingtips,
both of which greatly assisted water re-launch. Bruno Legaignoux has continued to improve kite designs, including developing the bow kite design, which has been licensed to many kite
manufacturers.
In 1997, specialist kiteboards were developed by Raphaël Salles and Laurent Ness. By 1998 kitesurfing had become a mainstream sport, and several schools were teaching kitesurfing.
Speed Records
On September 18th 2008, during the "Luderitz Speed Challenge"[8] in Namibia, kitesurfing became the fastest way of sailing on water. The "World Sailing Speed Record Council"[9] (WSSRC) validated
the run of Robert Douglas from the USA at 49.84 knots (92.30kmph). A few days later on October 3rd, 2008, Sebastien Cattelan from France was the first to pass 50 knots kitesurfing.
His attempt was validated by the WSSRC at 50.26 knots (93.08kmph). The following day, on October 4th 2008, Alex Caizergues from France established a record validated by the WSSRC at
50.57 knots (93.66kmph).
The 14th of November 2009, Alex Caizergues completed another unbelievable run of 50,98 knots in Namibia.
Wind Speed Conversion
Figures to Denote the Force of the Wind with the
Wind Speed Conversion»
