Crowded lakes

[Tighe]

As more and more people are hitting the water this summer we need to remind ourselves to respect everyone's use of the lake. Ignoring the motorized junkies for now, I've gotten a few comments from within our own community about scary situations that have arisen. We talked a bit about safety last week, so instead of rehashing that I'd just like to bring up some points about sharing the lake. I'm assuming a lot of these issues are coming up because some of the new kiters aren't aware of some of the protocol we've established.

If you're passing a windsurfer and can stay downwind of them...do, even if you have the Right of Way. Your rig extends 100ft downwind of you. Assume that whenever you put your lines over another rider, you're bummin them out.

Look before you jump. Give yourself plenty of room downwind. If you think you know where you are going to land, you're a fool.

Only come in close to the launch when you are done with your session. The winds are fluky, and the activity in the water is usually significantly higher. Not a good combination.

If you have your kite in the air and someone is in the water under your lines, let them know you're there and you know they are there.

Use hand signas to give over right of way and to communicate on the water.

If you're just not sure of what to do, put the kite overhead and plop in the water and let the situation pass.

If you're crossing paths with a windsurfer and it isn't feaible to head downwind, lock your kite high and steady.

Don't ask non kiters to launch or catch your kite. You are better off self launching and/or doing a self rescue than putting someone else at risk.

When you are launching someone else's kite you have responsibilites to the rider and to others nearby. Establish hand signals before heading into the water. Also, it is your responsibility to know when that kite is flying and when to launch it. If the kite doesn't feel light and is pulling downwind, DO NOT LAUNCH it. I see too many people tossing kites into the air, only to have them tumble downwind and create havoc. If the rider can't fly the kite up and out of your hands, move downwind or gesture for the rider to move upwind.

If your kite is onshore, wind your lines up. It's hard enough carrying a rig to the water, let alone watching so you don't trip on lines strewn about.

Windsurfers need a large amount of space to Jibe. Typically we like to head downwind to get speed, then carve a big turn and head out downwind. If you are riding downwind of a windsurfer and are approaching shore you may be in their jibe zone. Give them room if you can.

LOOK BEFORE YOU JUMP, JIBE, TRANSITION, SLASH DOWNWIND, ANY MAJOR COURSE CHANGE.

I appreciate people approaching me with their concerns. While I'm not the police or shaparone of this group, if I can help ensure everyone's enjoyment of the lake I will. If someone does something that makes you nervous or uncomfortable, I encourage you to approach them on the beach and discuss it. In most cases I'm sure the rider was not aware of the effect of their actions.

I'm glad we've come this far and kept the wind junkies sharing the lake and speaking to eachother lakeside. It is not common. In many places there is a tension between the two groups, which is unfortunate. I look forward to the Gathering.

[JERRY]

Thanks Tighe

Always good to refresh safety tips of our sport.

j

[SCOTT RIDOUT]

Here here I agree, I have probably violated a few of these a couple of times myself, if I have and you have not approached me please do and let me know I screwed up, I don't get angree, it's all a learning and helping experience to make both sports much better and enjoyable and more safer, I mean we are all ther to have fun, so lets have fun and be safe, great refresher Tighe thanks!!

[Dennis Wyszynski]

I am a windsurfer and all I want is for everyone to be on the water, having a good time and being safe. I appreciate the effort the kiting community, led by Tighe, puts into communicating safety and coexistence issues. I would also like to point out that kiters on this forum pretty much take the high road and have not pointed out bone headed moves some of us windsurfers have surely done on the water to make their day less enjoyable. Recently I jibed in front of a kiter, scaring the hell out of me and probably him, only to have the kiter apologize to me.

So let me know what I can do to help improve the sailing environment that we all share and I will try to do the same.

On the water I am still not as comfortable around kiters as I would like to be but I am getting better. In general I try to avoid being under a flying kite. One of the things I have difficulty with is anticipating what a kiter is going to do, this is not a critizism of kiters, it is a learning process for me. Funny thing, the better I know the kiter the more comfortable I am sailing because I better know there skill level and sailing style. So get to know your fellow sailors because if you cut a friend off on the water they will know it was inadvertent and that you are not just an inconsiderate sailor. This applies to everyone both windsurfers and kiters.


Dennis

[SCOTT RIDOUT]

Dennis, very well put man!!!