Kiteboard racing rule: The start
July 2, 2009 3:30 pm RacingAs we have gotten faster over the years and have a greater upwind angle the rules are becoming more important. There are a few rules to know.
Starboard has the right of way.
This is the most basic rule and you should know it even if you are not racing. The easiest way to know this is if you are moving to your right hand you have the right of way if you are moving to your left had you do NOT.
The highlighted kiter is on a port tack and will need to give way to any kiter tacking on starboard as they meet.
The rule that applies
10 Boats on opposite tacks
When boats are on opposite tacks, the port tack boat shall keep clear of a starboard tack boat. The starboard tack boat has the right of way over port tack boats.
Barging at the start line is totally illegal.
This rule is very hard to understand in regular sail boat racing so it that much more complicated with the speed of kiteboard racers and having the kites in the sky.
So first lets look at the sail racing rules. I found some of the important detail on the yachting.org.au website.
 |
What is “barging”Barging is approaching the starting line from a point to windward of the lay-line of the starboard or committee boat end of the line. In the diagram, the blue and red boats are on the layline to the committee boat. The green and yellow boats are windward boats and are required to keep clear. |
What is wrong with “barging” |
|
 |
In order to sail through the start line the barging yacht must sail at less than close hauled. Any yachts with an overlap to leeward (i. e. forward of a line projecting to leeward from the transom, hence nearly all the fleet) have right of way and can push the barging boat to windward. This will cause the barging boat have to sail to windward of the windward end of the start line and miss the start. That can be extremely dangerous if there is no barging buoy.
Note the overlapped boat can push the barging boat as high as head to wind, as long as enough room and opportunity is given. The barging boat has to respond immediately. |
If you are thinking of barging – don’t |
|
| As you will put yourself in an indefensible position. At best, you may find a hole on the second or third row, at worst, you will be pushed to windward of the start-line and miss the start completely. | |
If you are caught in a barging position |
|
 |
Firstly, recognise early that you are going to be in trouble rather than leave it to the last minute. Then all you can do is slow or stop the boat, wait for a gap in the fleet, which may mean waiting until all the boats at the windward end of the line have started, then proceed when it is clear. You do not have any rights at all, so do not try to force your way in. Alternatively it may be best to peel off, tack onto port, gybe back on to starboard, sail behind the fleet to find a hole and re-approach the start line from a safe position. |
The rules that apply
| Definition:Windward / Leeward
A boat’s leeward side is the side that is or, when she is head to wind, was away from the wind. However, when sailing by the lee or directly downwind, her leeward side is the side on which her mainsail lies. The other side is her windward side. When two boats on the same tack overlap, the one on the leeward side of the other is the leeward boat. The other is the windward boat. In the diagram, the red boat is the windward boat. |
 |
| 11 On the same tack, overlapped
When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat. |
|
| Note: The following rule is included to show why there is no such thing as ‘bouy room’ at the first mark
18 Rounding and Passing Marks and Obstructions In rule 18, room is room for an inside boat to round or pass between an outside boat and a mark or obstruction, including room to tack or gybe when either is a normal part of the manoeuvre. 18.1 When This Rule Applies Rule 18 applies when boats are about to round or pass a mark they are required to leave on the same side, or an obstruction on the same side, until they have passed it. However, it does not apply (a) at a starting mark surrounded by navigable water or at its anchor line from the time the boats are approaching them to start until they have passed them |
|
Now that we see the rule with boats lets look at it with kites. Note that in kite racing the kite is considered part of the boat when you read the rules.
Kiter A and kiter B will need to give way to any kiters coming up below them to the starting line as they come down wind so that they do not barg other racers at the start.
Kiter D will need to hold his course. He can not tack down on to kiter C. As they move though the start if kiter D can not hold his course he need to give way to C.
