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Britannia Guidelines - English

Please try and keep the launching / landing areas clear if the public is present or there are many people trying to launch or land.

Kitesurfing at Britannia

Developed by members of the Ottawa Kiting Group (May 2009)


1) 1st and foremost use common sense and read, understand and follow all the general kiting guidelines posted on Kitesurfing school website. If you don't have common sense, this might not be the sport for you ;-)

2) Run-away kites are a hazard to everyone so make sure you always have a properly rigged kite leash that will completely depower your kite.

3) Always offer to assist other kiters with landing and launching on land. Don't attempt to launch and land solo on land unless you are the only kiter and there are NO members of the public either on the beach or in the water. Solo launching/landing in the water is acceptable.

4) It is HIGHLY recommended that you take a formal course before you start trying kitesurfing at Britannia due to the nature of the launch (onshore winds, close proximity to obstacles)

5) Beginners are not to kitesurf when the water level in either bay is more than chest-deep. If you run into problems you may be dragged to shore risk damaging your kite or injuring yourself or others. These guidelines for launching / landing are for experienced kiters, and those who are new should get help and do an assisted launch in the water.

6) Do not fly a trainer kite on the beach when there are people within the flying zone

7) If you lines go slack when you are flying your kite over land, you are probably doing something wrong and you are a hazard to beach users. Ask for help or take a course!


8) Don't test out the power of your kite by flying it through the power zone or park your kite overhead on the beach.

9) Whenever there are people either in the water or on the beach in the launch area, walk out into shallow the water so you can maintain control of the kite and have someone launch your kite from a point downwind of people in case a gust hits and you lose control. Complaints from the public have frequently led to bans and restrictions.

10) Be careful about the wind shadow behind the pier and trees. Kites will drop out of the air in significant lulls.


11) If there are no people in the water, ride up close to the beach and have a kitesurfer catch your kite before coming on land. If there are people in the water, do not ride through them; stop and come ashore downwind of all of them.

12) Once you are safely on shore, secure your kite close to the rocks out of the launching/landing area and wind up your lines to make room for others launching or landing.

13) Kiters on shore should keep an eye out on both alternate launches on Brents and Hungs bay to assist in case someone wants to land their kite there instead of making a sketchy beach landing.


14) Here are some general rules of the road & guidelines that apply to everyone on the water:


Britannia Specific

15) Look before you change direction, try tricks or jump to avoid windsurfers, other kiters and anyone else in or on the water. Your right of way ends as soon as you change your course so make sure you will not run into anyone before you make any changes.

16) No jumps or tricks within 2 line lengths of anyone on the water (ex no "slick" use on a SW when there is anybody downwind on the water). Also watch for fishermen casting into the slick!"

17) It is not recommended to kite in a S wind at Britannia; if you have any issues you will be blown straight to the rapids. It is also recommended to walk your kite out into Hung's bay or launch from Brent's bay in a North wind due to the high risk of ending up in "the pit of death" and on the rocks.

18) If you are going to pass upwind of windsurfers, make sure your lines don't hit their sail and you don't spray them with the wake of your board. If in doubt, pass downwind.

19) Kiters with a kite in the air wanting to launch have priority over kiters on the water looking to land.

20) Give beginners and people receiving lessons a wide berth.


Windsurfing at Britannia

Developed by members of the Ottawa Windsurfing Group (May 2009)

Britannia Specific



2) If there are people in the water at the launch, do not come ripping into the beach at full-speed, or use people as jibe-markers. Stop and walk your gear into shore so that you don't risk hitting someone with your sail or fin. Don’t practice freestyle in proximity to swimmers in the water.

Interaction Between Windsurfers and Kitesurfers

3) If you see a kiter in the water, do not windsurf between them and the kite or right downwind of their kite. There are 25m long lines that you will catch with your fin and cause significant problems and a kite sitting on the water could potentially roll over and tangle around you and your equipment.

4) Never approach a kite in water or on land unless the kitesurfer has requested assistance. Follow any instructions they provide to the letter otherwise you could get tangled/injured by the kite and/or lines.

5) If passing downwind of a kiter, remember that they have lines up in the air, so don’t pass too close because your sail may hit their lines.

6) Look before you jibe! Your right of way ends as soon as you change your course so make sure you will not run into windsurfers or kitesurfers behind you before you make any changes. Look up as well as back; a kiter behind you may have jumped assuming you are maintaining your course and you could end up jibing right under them.

7) If you see a kite going up and down in the air, the kiter is not in trouble or trying to hit you with the kite; they are generating more power to keep planning

8) Windsurfers should not launch within 10-15 feet of a kitesurfer in the process of launching or landing on the beach

9) Give beginners and people receiving lessons a wide berth.