Kitesurf right-of-way rules: who passes who on the water | BINDY

The Belgian coast is 67 km long. When the wind blows, dozens of kiters share the same beaches. When two trajectories cross at a combined 25 knots, with no clear rule, an accident is guaranteed. Right-of-way rules in kite aren’t polite conventions — they’re a safety code you must know by heart, for yourself and for other water users (kiters, windsurfers, swimmers, vessels). Here are the essential rules, how they break down, and the Belgian specifics.

The rules below come from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG), adapted to kite by IKO and national federations. For the full legal context, check our article on kitesurf regulations in Belgium.

Why these rules exist

Three reasons:

1. Without a rule, no predictability. If everyone improvises, you don’t know where the other is going. With rules, you anticipate.

2. Speeds are high. At a combined 25 knots (two kiters head-on), one second of reaction = 12 metres covered. No time to discuss in the middle of a crossing.

3. The consequences of a collision are severe. Kite + body + speed + lines can cut, break, seriously injure. A kite-on-kite collision can kill.

The rules protect you and protect others. You don’t have a choice but to learn them.

Rule 1: Kite high = right of way (the most important)

This is the queen rule of kite. When two kiters cross head-on:

The kiter with the highest kite has right of way.

Why? Because the lower kite is quickly manoeuvrable (it can be lowered to pass under the wind), while the high kite (at zenith or close) is less quickly manoeuvrable.

In practice:

Kiter A: kite at 11 or 12 o’clock (high) → right of way.
Kiter B: kite at 7 or 8 o’clock (low) → must yield, by passing downwind of A.

This rule applies in head-on crossings in the same wind direction. The kiter with the low kite must depower to pass under the kiter with the high kite.

Rule 2: Starboard tack = right of way (inherited from sailing)

When two kiters sail in opposite directions:

The kiter with the wind on the right (starboard tack) has right of way over the one with the wind on the left (port tack).

In practice:

Starboard tack: the wind comes from your right. You ride with your right foot “forward” if you’re going close-hauled. You have right of way.
Port tack: the wind comes from your left. You must yield to a starboard tack rider.

To visualise: when you’re going close-hauled (close-hauled), look at which side your body is facing. Wind on the right = starboard. Wind on the left = port.

Rule 3: Upwind > Downwind (for kiters going the same way)

When two kiters head in the same direction (both close-hauled, or both downwind):

The kiter going closer to the wind (close-hauled) has right of way over the one running deeper downwind.

In practice:

Kiter close-hauled (going upwind) → right of way.
Kiter going downwind → must yield.

Logic: the kiter going upwind works harder, drifts less, and repositioning is more difficult. The downwind glider has more room to manoeuvre.

Rule 4: Overtaking

The kiter who overtakes always yields, regardless of other rules.

If you catch up to another kiter going the same way:

You pass wide (at least 10-15 metres clearance).
You don’t cut his trajectory in front of him.
You announce your overtaking if possible (shout or sign).

This rule prevails over starboard/port and upwind/downwind rules. The overtaker yields.

Rule 5: Beach approaches and launching

When you approach the beach or launch:

Kiters already on the water have right of way over those coming in.

Launching? Wait until the corridor is clear. You don’t go out while another is coming back.
Returning to the beach? Pick a clear area. If several kiters are coming in at the same time, the one closest to shore has right of way.

On the Belgian coast, the marked launch zones must be strictly respected. See the map of kitesurf spots in Belgium.

Rule 6: Other water users — kite always yields

You’re never given right of way over:

A swimmer: you change course, you pass wide (20+ metres).
A swimmer, paddler, swimmer: same.
A sailboat: barring special cases, the sailboat has right of way (it has less manoeuvrability than you).
A motor vessel: motor vessel yields to sailboats but not to you on a kite. Avoid them.
A swimmer in a non-marked zone: also given right of way.

The kite is at the bottom of the right-of-way chain in the maritime code. You yield to all other users.

Rule 7: Rotations and tricks (big air, freestyle)

When you jump or perform a trick:

You check your zone is clear before the jump.
You don’t send a jump over another kiter or user.
You go under-powered when in doubt (better a small risk-free jump than a big dangerous one).

A crash after a jump can send the board 50 metres or your body with lines towards another rider. That’s why big air zones on the Belgian coast concentrate in clear areas and off-peak hours.

Concrete cases: typical crossings

Case 1: Two kiters head-on (wind at their back)

A goes right, B goes left. They cross.

→ The kiter with the highest kite has right of way (Rule 1). The other passes under him (low kite, and body slightly lower in the water).

Case 2: Two kiters going close-hauled cross

A is on starboard tack (wind on the right). B is on port tack (wind on the left). They converge.

→ A (starboard tack) has right of way (Rule 2). B bears away (downwind) to pass behind A.

Case 3: Two kiters going the same direction

A is close-hauled (going upwind). B is gliding deeper downwind.

→ A has right of way (Rule 3). B must adjust trajectory to not cut A.

Case 4: You overtake a slower kiter

Doesn’t matter what else. You yield (Rule 4). Pass with margin.

Case 5: You’re approaching the beach and a kiter is coming out of the water

The kiter coming out of the water has right of way (Rule 5). You wait until clear, or pick another arrival zone.

Signals and communication

Written rules aren’t enough — non-verbal communication between kiters saves disputed situations:

Raising the right hand = “I’ve seen, I yield” / “ok, I understand”.
Pointing the hand in a direction = “I’m going that way”.
Horn or shout = “watch out, I’m here” (in case of emergency).
Kite held at zenith = “I’m stopping, problem or decision”.

On Belgian coast spots, take 30 seconds to observe other kiters before launching. You’ll learn who holds upwind, who runs downwind, who does tricks. Adapt your trajectory accordingly.

Practice zones in Belgium

Beyond individual rules, you must respect:

The marked practice zones: between buoys, signs, or IKWV markers. See kitesurf regulations in Belgium.
The bathing zones: strictly forbidden for kite (and the buffer zone between bathing and practice zone).
Ports and channels: forbidden, except jet-skis which can exit through the port.
Beyond the half-nautical-mile: you ride in the coastal zone (specific safety equipment required).

Common mistakes

1. Believing the fastest has right of way. False. Speed is never a right-of-way criterion — kite position, tack, and crossing convention are the criteria.

2. Thinking the rules only apply in competition. False. All kiters are subject to the same rules, whether you ride in competition or in free session.

3. Ignoring swimmers outside marked zones. In the coastal zone (beyond the buoys), there may be swimmers or paddlers. You yield, always.

4. Jumping without checking the zone. A jump gains height and distance. A poorly-placed crash can hit a kiter or swimmer 30 metres away.

5. Not announcing in an ambiguous situation. If you’re unsure of priority, make it known. A hand sign, a shout, a clear intention prevents accidents.

The case of windsurf and other towed sports

On mixed Belgian coast spots:

Kite vs windsurf: identical starboard/port rules. The windsurfer has no “class priority” over the kiter, and vice versa.
Kite vs wingfoil: same rules. The difference: wingfoil has a smaller window because the wing is held by hand, so more precise in manoeuvres.
Kite vs SUP / paddleboard: kite always yields (SUP is closer to a swimmer).
Kite vs surf: if you share the same wave, the surfer has right of way (in classic surfing, not in wave kitesurfing). In kite-only zones, kiter has priority.

In case of incident

If you cause an accident (collision, material damage, injury):

1. Help the person as priority. Self-rescue, putting them safe, first aid.

2. Contact emergency services if needed (112 in Belgium).

3. Stay on site for the report. Leaving the scene after an accident can lead to prosecution.

4. Notify your insurance as soon as the session ends. Your civil liability may cover damages — see our kitesurf insurance guide in Belgium.

5. Document the situation (photos, witnesses). Important for the friendly accident report.

FAQ

Is there an exam on right-of-way rules?

Not mandatory to ride autonomously on the Belgian coast, but the IKO 3 and VTS certifications include a section on rules. Without that training, you’re not considered an autonomous rider.

What to do if the other kiter doesn’t respect priority?

You yield anyway. Safety before ego. Note it mentally, report it to the club if it’s recurrent. The shipping police can intervene but it’s rare.

Kite high vs kite low, how to judge mid-crossing?

By eye, in a fraction of a second. That’s why we anticipate: you spot the other kiter 30-50 metres before, you see their kite position, you decide your trajectory accordingly.

Who yields when both kites are at the same height?

You use the next rule in order: starboard tack / upwind-downwind / overtaking. If nothing settles it, both bear away (simultaneous direction change) to move apart.

Do the rules apply offshore (beyond the half-nautical-mile)?

Yes, but you also fall under COLREG (international rules for vessels). You then also yield to motor vessels that may cross your path.

What if we’re a group on the same spot?

Communication. Briefing before the session if possible. On crowded spots, some clubs organise rotations by discipline or time slot. Respect them.

On a foil, are the rules different?

No. Foil is governed by the same rules. The nuance: a foil points better upwind than a twin-tip, so in a starboard-port crossing with a foil on starboard, the foil will go upwind faster — anticipate.

And international rules for a kite trip abroad?

The basic rules (kite high, starboard, upwind-downwind, overtaking) are universal. But zones, flags, beach rules vary by country. Get informed before.

Useful links

On bindy.world:

The simple takeaway: kite high, starboard, upwind, overtaking = right of way. Everything else yields to the kite, and the kite yields to non-kites. Learn them in lessons, apply them in sessions, anticipate other riders and you’ll ride 1000 sessions without a collision. Right-of-way rules are the bare minimum. Not a formality.