Windsurfers....

[voyager]

I've just got back from another infuriating session [2nd in two weeks] at Saunton where there are a couple of windsurfers who seem hellbent on trying to intimidate surfers.
The beach is 3 miles long and the surfers only generally ever use the last 500 yards or so on the north part of the beach next to the rocks. 99% of the windsurfers and kiteboarders don't come down that part of the beach, but there are one or two who insist on it. They cannot see us properly as many surfers are behind/in front of the wave and are lying down, and these guys are coming down the line totally flat out, at least 35 mph. Last week this one guy nearly hit 3 people in a row, he could see us as he was coming along the wave, but we couldn't see him because he was upon us so fast, I tried to get out of the way, but had no idea which way he was going to go and ended up just helpless like a sitting duck relying on him not to mess up, he missed me by about 3ft and was even closer to another surfer. On that day there were kiddies in the shallower water and this idiot was taking rides right into the beach narrowly missing them. Me and another 2 surfers confronted this guy and he started banging on about his rights to use the water blah blah blah.......people like this are lawsuit waiting to happen, so selfish.

Has anyone else had a problem at Saunton lately?

[jaffa1949]

Oh the problems the entitled ones cause.
Oh yes I am entitled to risk harm and injury , ( perhaps death ) to anyone who gets in my way.
A remedy, if it is a regular occurrence take pictures rclearly showing the guys and if you can the risk they cause other people. Hand to appropriate authorities.
If authorities won't do anything , put the photos in local paper with an article about the risk to ordinary beachgoers.
Authorities may then define zoning for types of surf craft.

[RinkyDink]

That's sounds really nerve wracking. I think Jaffa is spot on. Shoot a vid and hand it to the lifeguards.

[Big H]

....or brick his car.

[pmcaero]

take your leash off and start waving it around in a circle, I'm sure they will give you a wide berth

[oldmansurfer]

You probably should try talking to the idiot first. It is a sad failure of society when we have to make more regulations to keep people from being idiots

[jaffa1949]

Never argue with an entitled idiot, you are descending to their level.
They will always win.
After all, they have years of experience being idiots.
They know chapter and verse their rights
Of which you have none.

Common sense is no longer common.

[oldmansurfer]

I agree don't argue but talking might help or not. If they feel entitled then not but if they are just an ignorant fool then it might. Arguing is for arrogant entitled people no need to do that unless you feel arrogant and entitled.

[voyager]

so far, bricking the car is the most favoured suggestion.........just kidding.

Really just wondered if anyone else had this experience recently at Saunton?
If so, word will get around and the culprits will probably be politely explained to why they shouldn't try to intimidate surfers....and the kiddies, and then we'll turn the heat up from there if needs be. Always best to start a negotiation like this with a big smile and sense of humour...[now where's that big brick?]