Atlantic Crossing with 6 Kitesurfers

[deckofficer]

They have a live cam, but not enough reflected light to see much tonight. I would assume as high as the kite flies combined with the light's beamwidth, nobody needs to man the light. I believe it is mounted on the mast pointing upward and forward so as to not destroy the watchstander's night vision. I saw a picture of it on the mast.

[atoll]

might be an idea to attach a long high test fishing line to the kitesurfer......then the guys on the cat can just wind him in when he get tired.........

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

They have a live cam, but not enough reflected light to see much tonight. I would assume as high as the kite flies combined with the light's beamwidth, nobody needs to man the light. I believe it is mounted on the mast pointing upward and forward so as to not destroy the watchstander's night vision. I saw a picture of it on the mast.

I think the live cam was on the shore , they seem to just carrying GPS trackers.

Dave

[deckofficer]

Bummer, they didn't want to ante up for sat connections for low frame rate video.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Bummer, they didn't want to ante up for sat connections for low frame rate video.

Well pictures or it didn't happen

Dave

[deckofficer]

Dave, I went back to their site and the web cam was for departure. They and their sponsors missed the boat by not having live video of the surfers. I don't think a kite surfer has the needed stamina to surf 112 nm a day for 20 days, and without being able to see it live, I'll have my doubts about a declared success.

Some folks just don't know how to promote.

[Ocean Girl]

They may just be doing it for the crazy adventure of it, promoting it doesn't seem to be their number one priority, more of an after thought.

Hey, if marksj says it's cool, then who am I to poo on their parade

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Well pictures or it didn't happen Dave

trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/.../46241706
Nov 25, 1970 - named Minette was first to leave the raft La Balsa when it reached Australia after its 8560 mile drift from Ecuador ...

These guys did something with no fame, but that doesn't make it less real. I think the Kite Fliers rock, but I doubt they care what we think... Either way.

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I totally agree with you. But there are some on this forum who do not like it when I call some idiotic stunt idiotic... Sooooooo....wow guys how cool!




Mark

I'll be MarkJ for a moment. The website talks about the passion and not the money. So let's add up the money. A bareboat Lagoon 500 charter is about $10,000 a week but this one is crewed so it would be more. Add in all the additional fees, fuel, food, drinks, airfares and a freakin doctor and this could easily approach $100K or way more than that. And that boat is only worth about $700,000. But it's not about the money! It's about the passion!
It's like my friend describing his heli skiing trip. He made it out like he was communing with nature, at $1000 to $2000 per day plus airfare etc. I've been heli skiing a couple of times and done the charter deal. I've got the passion but they always want to see my money (credit card) first. I must be doing something wrong.
How'd I do Mark?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

How'd I do Mark?

The challenge is too easy... And too easy for people to afford. Any one can buy a windsurfer, and it doesn't need to be a new well found catamaran, but a heap of waterlogged junk. Soon it will be fastest to cross on a windsurfer, then youngest to cross, till it gets to the insanity of a seven year old pilot trying to be the youngest to fly across the USA ....except she died doing it along with the sponsor wrangling father....



Jessica Dubroff killed at 7 years old to prove people can be idiots...
By the way, her little pink hat says: "Women Fly". At 7 she was a woman?

[deckofficer]

MarkJ, in fairness to Jessica, had she been the pilot in command, she, her dad and instructor would still be alive. The instructor departed in deteriorating conditions under the pressure of staying on schedule for the upcoming media rendezvous. If the departure decision was left to Jessica, as a low hour student pilot (which she wasn't even that due to the rules) she would have waited for conditions she felt more comfortable with. As you know on dual controls, the strongest pilot wins, so the stall and crash was the instructor's input.

[Artif]

Let's hear it for living life.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Artif

Let's hear it for living life.

The key being the 2nd last word.
Dave

[jkindredpdx]

Not to be picky... buuuut Kite boarding is not windsurfing and it's pretty amazing to watch the guys doing it. I believe it's a lack of acceptable risk experiences and adventure in life that contributes to wacko attacks. I volunteer for a youth outdoor adventure nonprofit and it's amazing how troubled kids' attitudes improve in nature...

These kite boarders aren't causing any harm to anyone, I doubt they are in any real danger, and they are probably having a gas.

[Artif]

The key being, not waiting for death....because your too scared to take a risk.