Safety first!

This is to be kept in mind on the water, above all. Windsurfing is NOT a dangerous sport, but especially as a beginner, if you don't have that much experience with aquatic sports in general and with the windsurfing equipment in particular, it is important to know the generally valid safety rules on the water.

 

Those include the rules concerning motor boats and commuter traffic (as shown below) as well as the right of way rules, valid among windsurfers and sailors, and the safety rules which are helpful to avoid dangerous situations or, should they occur, to instinctively react the right way.

 

The rules relating to motor boats are quickly explained: motor boats have to make way for surfers and sailors. Surfers should not insist on this right of way, though, because they will always be the weaker ones in a situation of doubt. Therefore you are well advised to keep a fair distance to driving motor boats, but also to port entrances, waterways, buoy fields and jetties.

 

In principle, commuter traffic has right of way. Pleasure boats, ferries, boats that operate in liner traffic, inland waterway crafts, but also operational boats of the police and rescue workers belong to this category. On inland waterways, such ships can be recognized due to a green bowl on the deck which is visible over a long distance. However, there won't be any problems if the demanded space between motor-driven boats is obeyed as described above.

 

At all times, a distance of about three mast lengths to swimmers should be maintained. Surfers and other water athletes without sail or motor impulse are disadvantaged over windsurfers and therefore have the right of way. Windsurfing is forbidden in bathing zones and preserved areas.

 

Basically it is always recommended to inform in advance about local conditions. That is especially true for coastal and flowing waters, where tidal range, surf and currents may constitute additional perils.

Right of Way for surfers and sailors

On the water there are right of way regulations just as in road traffic. However, rules like "give way to the right" don't work on the water where there are no streets. To avoid crashes however, there are three basic right of way standards that apply for all sail-driven water vehicles, even for sailing boats.

 

1. Leeward over windward

Once again, the wind is decisive here. Because of that, there are terms for the "downwind side" (leeward) and the "upwind side" (windward) which is the side exposed to the wind – see graphics.

 

Surfer (2), for example, is surfing wind abeam with sideshore wind from the right in the adjoining diagram. Surfer (1), however, is surfing upwind and thus doesn’t steer "at right angles" to the wind, but towards the windward side. If both stubbornly continued their course straight ahead, they would collide.

 

The first rule therefore says "leeward over windward". If another surfer is heading in the same direction as you (here, seawards) but is leeward from you, you have to dodge if your ways would cross. The leeward surfer (1) has right of way over the windward surfer (2).

 

2. Starboard tack over port tack

But who has right of way if two surfers are heading towards each other from different directions and their ways cross? Here the second rule "starboard tack over port tack" applies. If a surfer is coming towards you, the one whose sail, from his or her own point of view, is on the left side of the board (starboard tack), has right of way.

 

In the graphics on the right, surfer (2) is going landwards on a freeing wind course with sideshore wind. From his point of view, he has his sail on the right side of his board, on a port tack course. Because of that, surfer (1) steering seawards with his sail on the left side of his board from his perspective, sailing on a starboard tack course, has right of way. The following is easy to remember while sailing: when your right hand is closer to the mast than your left hand, you have right of way.


3. Responsibility to maintain direction

In order to assure that the situations described above don't lead to collisions, not only the one who does NOT have right of way has to dodge, but the one who has this right is obliged to maintain his direction and speed. This prevents that both surfers inappropriately dodge, which would just lead to a crash.

 

Link

At the VDWS website, there's more information on right of way regulations.

Safety rules for windsurfers

Those who do not have much experience with water sports often underestimate the forces of nature. When windsurfing you have to pay special attention to the power of the wind, currents or tides. However, you will always be on the safe side if you respect the following rules.

 

1. Check the equipment

Like for any other sport, your equipment should be in a correct condition. Ripped powerjoints, worn out harness lines or other things can break or strap on the water and lead to an emergency situation. You should always take a spare rope with you. For example, you could wrap it around your harness hook. You should also make sure to wear appropriate clothes. In the water and in the wind, the body cools off really fast.

 

2. Tell someone

You should never go into the water alone, or at least choose spots with other surfers around. Beginners should never surf too far away, so they are able to swim back anytime. Especially when you plan a longer surf trip, you should give friends or the surfschool the following information: your destination, scheduled return, scheduled stops and the look of your sail.


3. Currents

Currents are difficult to see from the coast and can be very dangerous, because they make it hard to paddle or swim, especially with the equipment. Rivers always have currents, which can vary according to the condition of the banks and the ground. There may also be currents in inland waters, for example due to stream flows. In the area of dams and barrages it can become perilous. However, these are marked by visible warning signs. Before surfing, you should find out if and when there are strong currents in the area.


4. Tides

In the ocean, currents arise mainly because of the tides. When the water is draining off - low tide - the water is pulled towards the ocean, and when the water is coming - high tide - the water is pushed towards the coast. The strongest currents form where the tidal range (the level difference between high tide and low tide) is extremely high, where the water has to flow around islands or other obstacles, which may be under water and in the third and fourth hour before and after the high tide.


Near the coast, the current is often diverted due to obstacles (sandbanks, islands, breakwaters). So, it is not said that the current flows toward the coast during high tide and towards the ocean during low tide.


Before surfing, you should find out, if and when there are strong currents in the area.

 

5. What to do in case of emergency?

Should I paddle back or call help - that's a difficult decision. It often happens that people underestimate the distance to the coast and depend on being saved by someone. Especially when the wind is strong and offshore, paddling is very exhausting. You should only start paddling back when you are sure you can do it.

 

When you want to paddle, you have to pull the rigg out of the water, put it with the boom on the stern of the board, so it does not touch the water and brakes. If necessary, you have to dismantle it or even leave it behind, to paddle to the coast with only your board. If you choose to call for help and wait for being rescued, you need the stretched rigg as a drift anchor, because otherwise your board drifts away.

 

Before surfing, you should find out, if and when there are strong currents in the area.


6. Call help

It is not embarassing to call for help! The emergency signal has to be clear and visible, so you can be saved quickly. You have two opportunities:

 

A) You wave your arms slowly, while sitting, kneeing or standing on your board.

 

B) Or you wave with a colourful object, for example your harness.

 

Do this, until you are sure that help is on the way. In addition to this, you should hoist your rig every now and then. That way, your rescuers can see you better between the waves or when the sun is blinding. It is important to stay with the board. That way, you save your energy and you are easier to see.


7. Help others

If you see another surfer calling for help, you are obliged to help him. If you are not able to help, you have to inform other people immediately. Pay attention to keep an eye on the person in trouble.

 

Link

More information about safety rules at VDWS.