right of way?

I am a sea kayaker who frequently paddles downwinders in the gorge. We love the wind as much as you guys and are comfortable up to and including nuclear. 99.9% of the time the windsurfers we encounter are very cool with our presence.

Yesterday at Swell City my buddie was almost run over by a windsurfer who couldn't make up his mind to fall off or pinch up a bit. He yelled 'YOU FOOL!!!!' as he just missed my buddie by 10'. My friend was 1 second away from flipping over, presenting the smooth bottom of the boat to the surfer in case of an impact.

I shrugged my shoulders, as if saying whatever.

We have alot of speed control but are pretty much stuck on a downwind, parallel to the current course. WS'ers are opposite, abeam to the wind, with quite a range of attack, es correcto?

Isn't it possible for a surfer who frequents Swell to have the ability to sail around a rather slow motion kayak stuck on a straight course? Seems as most do and generally hollar WOOHOO, COOL, WOW, YAWHOO, etc. as they speed by.

Anyway, just want to stay on the correct side of the law.

steve (white boat, yellow helmet)

Steve, There are sailors in the Gorge that don't see freakin' barges until it's nearly too late! Some sailors there, get locked into a reach like heat seeking missiles...back and forth in a straight line , never deviating their course. It seems that the more safety equipment they have on, the scarier it is, to be near them in the H20. Seat harnesses and booms down around their knees on pink O'Briens... LOOK OUT!!! Technically and legally, the more maneuverable craft is supposed to avoid the collision, so your buddy had ROW, FWIW... I would avoid the corridor in a kayak, or paddle near the Oregon side when going through Swell and the Hackery...because of the numbers of beginner and intermediate windsurfers and kiters...the East end of the Hackery can be particularly scary, as far as ROW is concerned...

WARDOG

You have the ROW. Swell can be pretty shaky this time of year with lots of people who don't sail there much and have problems with ROW.

I wouldn't worry about it or lose sleep.

We actually sent a kayak out on Friday to rescue a windsurfer by Ruthton Pt after the wind died and reversed course.

Cheers,

Bob

I'm not sure a kayak is the less maneuverable craft. A Kayak can stop, turn left, turn right and back up. A sailboard can go in one restricted direction and stop. A kayaker also has much better visibility than a windsurfer since he is not looking through a sail and hooked in pointing one direction. Neither sailboards or kayaks are really addressed by COLREGS, but maybe there are other rules in force on the Columbia River. What is clear is that it's imperative that everyone look where they're going and take whatever action is necessary to avoid collision. There's no substitute for good judgement.

Frank Weston

all good points and thanks. I'm not sure about the ROW either, seems a w/s can pinch or fall off pretty dang easily to make a sizeable course change where we are required to rudder stroke or sweep which takes a while. no biggie, we BOTH have to look out. I fully understand the dynamics involved and can control my vessel in the conditions I choose to paddle. Nothing we want more is to keep things safe and happy. I see paddlers who attempt conditions over their heads all the time and realize the same holds true in every sport, especially on a medium small day (up to 20 knots). We are muy careful whenever we around ANY river users, especially in congested areas.

I really love the winter easterlies! no body out there, current and 45 knots going WEST, Temp- 35º, YEAH!

I dusted off my old instructors manual (from the WIA) and found this rather logical gem at the tail end of their 'Rules of the Road' section: 'Here is the final rule: Windsurfers, sailboats and power boats must stay clear of manually powered vessels. This includes row boats and paddle boats, canoes and air mattresses. Naturally, you must also use caution around swimmers and divers.' All that said and done there's little reason to come within 10' of any craft when you're hanging onto a 13-16' unfixed mast- unless you don't see that other craft. I can remember one chilly day in August when my boom's clew lodged into a notch along the fin's trailing edge and two guys jumped over me. Their expressions told me I gave them little other recouse being down and no sail flying- damn glad they were both very good jumpers. I can't imagine a kayack is much more visble in Gorge rollers (that's where I was).

According to the two state safe boating and coast guard study I've encountered. I boat under paddle has ROW over a boat under sail almost always. Rules differ in defined areas (I don't know if a certain section of the Gorge is windsurfing restricted or not?) But otherwise, paddlers have ROW over most anything except swimmers and of course stationary boats and

The issue in this isn't ROW; it's being seen. Here's why: WSer gets too close to kayak. Kayak rolls. WSer hits kayak bottom. Kayaker rolls upright again immediately after the thump, raises his paddle over his head, and waits. WSer emerges, sputtering and cursing at kayaker. Kayaker plays Wack-a-Mole with WSer until either a) noise stops or b) apology replaces blasphemy. ROW established.

But I'd still want to be in a fluorescent lime yellow kayak when passing through a WSing zone, 'cause that permanent north-south rut in the water ain't no accident.

Mike m/