| Pre-Race
Equipment
Protection:
The wearing of helmets is compulsory, other protection such as
knee and elbow pads and body armour is a personal choice.
Lines: Don't
use Kevlar or similar abrasive lines. Length, from handles to
back of kites no more than 60m.
Harnesses: You
must be able to release your kite in case of emergency. Open hook
(windsurf harness) or a quick release system is considered OK.
A strap around your back isn't.
Buggies: Upper
limits 3m wide, 3.5m long, 26 inch wheels, 20 kg extra weights
and no sharp edges (see scrutenering)
Race Numbers: You
should have at least 3 numbers with digits 14 cms high, 2 cms
stripe in black on a white background. One should be visible from
the back, and one on each side.
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| Pre-Race Flags |
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Course
Marker: Hitting one if these marks during a race will incur
a penalty. |
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Pilots Meeting: Compulsory
meeting to outline course, rule changes etc... Missing the pilots
meeting may exclude pilot from the event. |
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5 Minute Warning: Usually
accompanied by a gun. Crossing the start line whilst the blue flag
is out will incur a penalty or disqualify pilot. |
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1 Minute Warning:
Usually accompanied by a gun. ALL pilots must
be rolling. |
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Race Start:
Red flag is raised for final 10 seconds and then lowered (usually
accompanied by a gun) to start the race. |
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During a Race
Buggy Priority
Collisions hurt so learn the rules of the road!
Basically you must guard the front and the right side
of your buggy. If you are on a head-on collision course turn right
and the other pilot should do the same. In all other situations, watch
for pilots coming from your right and avoid them.
Pilots coming from your left will avoid you, so don't confuse them by
changing course. You may overtake on the right or left but it is your
responsibility to avoid a collision with the overtaken pilot.
Wind direction makes no difference to these rules. For
old-timers, the starboard rule no longer applies, but as a matter of
interest if both pilots are beating (going upwind, a common situation),
the new guard your right' rule is exactly the same.
There is a grey area between overtaking and converging. I guess you
are overtaking if you are going faster and your angle of approach is
more from behind than from the right. Use your common sense and be careful
if it looks borderline.
In some situations you must make a conscious effort to look right because
it isn't natural; for example when the wind is
coming from your right.
Kite Height
The upwind buggy must fly high and the downwind buggy
must fly low. This is really just common sense. If you don't do it you
will tangle. The kite height rule is nothing to do with buggy priority;
you must never use your kite to block anyone.
Kite height rules apply whenever you are close enough to tangle with
another kite. It is the responsibility of both pilots
to comply. In the event of a tangle the pilot who's kite was at an unreasonable
height is at fault. If you can't control
your kite properly, you shouldn't be flying it.
Opposing: Things happen quickly as bunches of buggies
are opposing at a closing speed of 60 mph (a situation that often arises
during slalom races). First pick a gap on the ground for your buggy
using the priority rules. It's often a good idea to look behind you.
If the rest of your bunch is going for a different gap, will the 'weave'
work? Having picked a buggy gap, look for the corresponding kite gap
and get your kite to the right altitude to slot it through.
Overtaking: You must
raise and lower whether you are overtaking or being overtaken.
At a mark: If there's
a line of pilots jibing (turning) a mark, the leaders will be downwind
of the followers after the mark.
Therefore kites must come in high and go out low. Down turns are often
most effective.
Other Points
Receiving Assistance: It's
an individual sport. Assistance during a race is not allowed unless
it is for safety reasons (so no pit crews). During a race the safety
vehicles can be called to remove pilots from the course for safety.
If retrieval to the pits or off the course is assisted the pilot is
deemed to have dropped out of the race.
Kit Changes: Pilots
may change any of the equipment being used at any stage of a race as
long as any changes are made off the course and without assistance.
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