               
Join US SAILING
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Important safety rules are as
follows:
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Always stay with the windsurfing board.
Never leave the board to try to swim ashore.
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Always wear a USCG life vest or jacket which has a whistle.
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Never
windsurf alone. Always have a buddy.
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Do
not sail in offshore winds. ( Wind blowing from the shore out to sea.
In coastal areas, morning land breezes are offshore winds. )
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Always give a responsible friend ashore your sailing plan.
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Always check the weather before going out.
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Wear
proper clothing. Know the signs of hypothemia and in warm weather,
drink plenty of water to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Remember cold can kill. The first time you shiver return to shore.
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Always check your equipment before you go out.
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Rules of the Road.
A
windsurfing board follows the same rules of
the road as a sailboat. The windsurfing board, is the stand-on vessel when approaching
most powerboats, except commercial fishing vessels and large vessels
restrained by draft such as a ferry, tug, dredge or large commercial
vessel. You must also stay 500 yards away from all military vessel.
A
windsurfing board is the give-way vessel when overtaking any type of
watercraft. This can easily happen since a windsurfing board is a
planning vessel and can be propelled to significant speeds by the force of
waves and wind. It also is the give-way vessel over all personal
( human propelled ) watercraft such as canoes, kayaks and surfboards.
When
two windsurfing boards approach each other, the one a port tack, with the
sail over
the starboard side of the board, will give way to a windsurfing board on a starboard
tack, with the sail over the port side of the board. If the two
windsurfing boards are
on the same tack, the windward board will be the give way craft.
 Shown
in the picture on the right is a large man-of-war which is restrained by
draft and is surrounded by a 500 yard security zone. (100 yards no
approach and another 400 yards where speed is restricted to the minimum
speed which will allow steerage.) This vessel is the stand-on
vessel. The picture was taken from a watercraft which was on a starboard
tack. The sailboat in the foreground is on a port tack and is the
give-way vessel.
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