Leo lifegaurd announces right of way

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

A couple of days ago I heard the lifegaurd announce on his bullhorn the following: "Kitesurfers please sail downwind of all windsurfers". I believe this is the beginning of enforcing right of way rules between windsurfers and kiters. This only makes sense and should preserve everyones safety and right to participate while minimizing danger at this point break.

They realize that a 25' slot cannot hold 20 windsurfers and 10 kiters safely at the same time. One vessel is 8-12 feet long with 6 meters of power, and the other is 120' long with 12 meters of power and lift.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

I can't imagine that the kiters are going to take getting X'd out of the wave lineup very kindly. No, they wouldn't be happy, not at all.

jp5 · Joined: 19 May 1998 Posts: 3394 Location: OnUr6

I support the ruling and agree with SW. This should get very interesting.

nealpar · Joined: 25 Oct 1998 Posts: 624

jp5 · Joined: 19 May 1998 Posts: 3394 Location: OnUr6

Typo duely noted and corrected. I still have blurred vision from a late night of beer, whiskey, and rock n' roll. Cool

theq · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 707

beallmd · Joined: 10 May 1998 Posts: 1154

IMHO the systems for kites/WS work pretty well now at Herd Ave/Waddell/Washoe/Sherman. I do think it has become better over the years. Leo sounds particularly diificult though. Good Luck.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

isobars, the key to understanding the Leo Carrillo setup, is that the wave lineup is super concentrated into a very very small area. Also, having the existing interplay and sharing between surfers and windsurfing already is fairly well orchestrated and separated into kind of co-joined adjacent small areas, so it's well established and reasonably honored.

The entry into the slot that windsurfers join the scene from the outside is tightly framed by heavy kelp and rock/reef features, with sailors going in and out at the same time. Adding a small hoard of kiters, presses the capacity to ridiculous levels. Moreover, any inclusion of irresponsible parties in the mix, one can only guess about the problems and potential repercussions.

Really, kind of a heavy decision seems to be finding maturation, and I'm thinking that it can't be an easy thing to bring across. Like I said earlier, kiters won't be happy at all.

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Lifeguards observed kiter riding 1st wave in set then jibing back around me on 2nd wave of set and wrapping her line around my mast so she could catch 2nd wave in the same set. Needless to say they, nor I was amused.

This type of behavior is not unusual, and as I said, it is more a matter of power than size in right of way issues. If we are vessels as they assume, then there are right of way rules pertaining to power and manuverability that they should enforce. Swimmers, surfers, SUP, Windsurfers, Kiters in that order.

Right of way rules will only enhance both sports, and reduce conflict, thereby protecting both sports.