Windsurfing Magazine

kristin
2008-03-26 14:00:00 | 140 views | 0 Comments

Here are some basic right-of-way rules and common sense practices to help you weave through traffic.

Starboard has right-of-way over port. A sailor on starboard tack (with his right hand near the mast) has right-of-way over a sailor on port tack (left hand near mast). These head-on situations occur every day, occasionally at alarming speeds.

Here are some simple hints. First, telling your right arm from your left - at 30 mph. I wear my watch on my left arm, so when my left hand is forward (I'm on port tack), I have to “watch out” for oncoming sailors. Not only are you required to watch out for oncoming sailors, you must also avoid and steer clear of them. The oncoming sailors should hold their course and not make it any more difficult for you than it already is.

The leeward board has right-of-way over the windward board. (This sounds even more confusing than starboard and port). In other words, downwind boats have the right-of-way. Sailors downwind of you have the right-of-way; you have rights over upwind sailors because you have a hard time spinning around to see them. This rule can be applied to passing other sailors, looking back and to leeward before jibing, and bailing out after big air.

When passing other sailors, whether to windward or leeward, there are several guidelines. The higher the wind speed, the more room you should give someone. Ideally, if the average mast length is 15 feet, 15 feet is as close as you should get. (If you can see that the other sailor has Lycra spandex tights on under his wetsuit, you've passed too close).

When applied to jibing, this breaks a time-honored sailing tradition: When approaching the beach, look to see if your girlfriend or buddy has the camera on you. This tradition can still be maintained, but think of how much better the picture of your jibe will look when you're ripping out of your turn rather than into your leeward neighbor. Before your jibe, check downwind. Make sure the coast is clear, and then impress the beach crowd.

The last application of protecting the leeward windsurfer follows the adage: Look before your leap. As more experienced sailors take to the air, the downwind position probably isn't the most advantageous. Granted, 90 percent of the time they land their jumps, but, during that 10 percent where a less-than-graceful midair dismount is required, the downwind position could be lethal. When jumping in crowded locations, always check to leeward before taking off. If necessary, hang on till the bitter end to avoid clobbering your downwind neighbor.

When you survive dawn patrols at Lake Wannabe, we can take a well-deserved break on the beach. Once ashore, we tiptoe across the beach scattered with precious monofilm, carbon, and dangerous G-10 stilettos. These blades prey on unsuspecting rigs that have been detached from their boards or left with the clews pointed into the wind. If space allows, point the mast tip into the wind and weight the tip by burying it in the sand or placing your board on top of it. When space is a real problem store your rig under your car. This also protects it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays and stray dogs.

By checking your neighbors' gear, you can make sure it won't tumble on yours. These “Team Tumbleweed” encounters are dangerous not only for sailors and equipment, but also for unsuspecting passersby. When your gear isn't in use, tie it up so that it will be there for the afternoon session.

One last safety tip: Always assess the conditions and use common sense before biting off more than you can chew. When rigging, take time to check your downhaul, outhaul, uphaul, and harness lines. Frayed line should be replaced. Store spare line, harness strip, universal pin, and mast protector to avoid ugly predicaments.